Editor,
The UN’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that efforts to limit global warming while feeding a booming population could be wrecked without swift and sweeping changes to how we use the land we live off. IPCC’s report offered a sobering take on the hope that reforestation and biofuel schemes alone can offset mankind’s damage to the environment.
Land is intimately linked to climate. With its forests, plants and soil it sucks up and stores around one-third of all man-made emissions. Over-exploitation of the resources produces huge amounts of planet-warming CO2, methane ad nitrous oxide. Retention of fresh water in the inner recess of the land is possible only through the protection of trees and plants.
Monsoon over the Indian peninsula is almost erratic. Normally, first week of June every year, monsoon used to hit south India but now the monsoon does not come precisely, and even if it comes in time, it does not carry desired amount of rain water. But at the same time, late coming of the monsoon is totally different from the expected lines. It assumes very fierce nature and it rains very heavily and furiously.
This time the monsoon wreaked havoc in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, etc. Hundreds of people lost their lives in the incessant rains. And in the North-East especially in Assam and Bihar, where hundreds were dead and thousands were left homeless let alone their cattle, standing crops and other belongings, the monsoon fury was let loose.
All these climatic changes occur due to El Nino factor. Everyone is responsible for the climatic changes. Intense exploitation of resources, man’s unsatisfying greed for amassing wealth and not caring for the environment are all the root causes for the natural disasters that befall on us like phenomenal cloudburst, temperature going up unbearably, and floods.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email
Climate Change is on us
Editor,
The unprecedented rains in parts of North Karnataka has affected the life and property of thousands of people. The rivers from neighbouring Maharashtra have caused much havoc in the rain affected regions owing to overflowing water in the dams. Even Maharashtra and Goa regions are not spared from the flood fury affecting many people’s settlements and livelihoods.
It is high time now for the Center to speed up its relief work in rain affected areas of North Karnataka and Maharashtra. Adequate warnings issued by weather advisory should have been seen as a precautionary measure. The efforts put in by NDRF, SDRF in tandem with the Indian Army is highly appreciated.
Further relief materials and support to the affected areas should increase manifold and a full fledged support should be sought from necessary agencies involved in rescue work. Key learning’s from the previous flood fury in Kerala should have been adopted by the Center to mitigate such a crisis arising yet again this year. Necessary relief in the form of materials and funds should now be mobilized quickly on priority basis to distribute to the rain affected people. Center should be on a high alert and rescue people on priority basis by arranging for necessary support through various rescue teams from the Army and Navy.
Yours etc.,
Varun Dambal
Bangalore – 72
J&K: Darkness at noon
Editor,
On 8th August 2019 the PMO’s official twitter handle tweeted stating that PM Modi will address the nation at 8 PM in the evening. At first I was a little frightened thinking what if he says Demonetization 2.0 will take place from mid night. Luckily he didn’t. In fact he addressed the whole nation in regards to the recent changes that took place in Jammu & Kashmir. The PM began his speech by congratulating the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on scrapping of special status to J&K and the state’s bifurcation. The speech was about 40 minutes long and every word that Modi spoke seemed reliable and promising. But at the same time it is worth noticing that for the last three days J&K is suffering from a total shut down of mobile internet services, broadband and even landline connections. Adding to this even television services were stopped by the central government. So this means that when the Prime Minister was addressing the whole nation to share his thoughts about Jammu and Kashmir and the Kashmiris, the people of Kashmir were totally blacked out and had no clue about the PM’s speech. The whole nation knew what PM Modi felt about Jammu and Kashmir but the people of that very region neither had any information nor idea about this at all. There’s a lot of irony hidden in this, a lot of questions that arise inside the minds of a lot of Indians but all we can do right now is just pray for the people of Kashmir, for their well being and for peace in the valley.
Your’s etc.,
Nitesh Deb
Via email
Parliament to go paperless soon
Editor,
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha monsoon sessions have concluded recently. The Hon’ble Speakers of both the Houses have termed the current session as most productive since 1952. It is highly appreciable that the Speakers took note of over 36 bills passed including the crucial Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, J&K Reorganization Bill, Central GST bill, Right to Information Bill, UAPA Bill etc. Both the Houses witnessed smooth business proceedings including extension of monsoon session by seven days, extended business hours to pass crucial bills and much lesser uproar in the House leading to the most productive session.
The decision taken by Hon’ble Speaker to go paperless from the next session (Winter Session) in both Houses is commendable as it will improve the productivity of the House. The move may help to emulate the currently followed paperless system in other parliamentary bodies like the European Union, United Nations General Assembly etc.
Further, it would be a great initiative if the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs promotes the activities of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha through extensive outreach programs across various social media channels and PIB News Website. The move will result in effective communication, promote outreach and foster a better and productive business environment in both the Houses.
Yours etc.,
Varun Dambal
Bangalore – 72