Why it's a Black Environment Week for this PCMC engineer
On June 7, Prashant Raul, an engineer from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), will set off on a 15 km walk from Dehu to Alandi to spread awareness about pollution in the Indrayani River, which connects the two pilgrimage sites, and other ecological realities. If the walk comes after World Environment Day, it is for a reason.
'Across the world, people get together on June 5 to celebrate World Environment Day with sapling plantations and so on. I do not feel that there is any cause to celebrate, as we have damaged all five elements, from earth to air. This is a time for action. That is why I have initiated the Black Environment Week to draw people's attention to real problems,' he says.
Raul, who set up an initiative called Green Army Pimpri-Chinchwad four years ago, is observing Black Environment Week this week, during which he is working towards generating awareness and mobilising people to take steps to save the planet.
'Not many people are aware when World Environment Day started and why. There is a lack of awareness that Jeju Province in the Republic of Korea has been chosen as the host location for World Environment Day, or that the theme this year is ending plastic pollution,' he adds.
Raul, who was one of the litigants in the Save Metro Eco Park case in 2024, is an active member of PCMC's environment-conscious groups. The Green Army has campaigned against illegal tree felling – Raul has lodged six FIRs against it– and promoted the 'nature island' form of tree transplantation in which small clusters of saplings are planted in barren spaces to encourage afforestation.
After Diwali 2024, Raul conducted 13 Air Quality Index (AQI) walks to capture real-time AQIs in PCMC. The Green Army Plate Bank, which has 22 centres in PCMC, gives out free steel plates, glasses and cutlery in an attempt to reduce single-use waste.
The days surrounding World Environment Day have been observed as World Cycling Day and Zero Food Waste Day, among others. Raul has been engaging with people online and offline on the dangers of sound pollution caused by blowing horns, and the great problem of waste. On June 5, he will give a talk in a corporate office on a sustainable lifestyle, and conduct an online session on energy literacy. But, it is during the walk that Raul hopes to connect with the highest number of people. 'The Indrayani River is among the most polluted, and I am looking forward to discussions on how untreated sewage is getting discharged in the river, the meanings of biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand and how a river dies,' says Raul.
India's acute groundwater crisis and air pollution will also be discussed during Raul's walk. 'I will be conducting Facebook Live sessions and making videos during the walk to reach more people,' he says.
While Raul is uncertain about the impact of his advocacy—though there are many responses to his social media posts on the environment—he is undeterred about continuing his crusade for the planet.
Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
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