Laloor continued...........

Plastic and plastic only....at the processing plant

Imported, as if it is scarce here!!!

These are two photos from the Laloor dumpyard. The source of plastic is not only national, but international too.

Now, what can a forester do? I am constantly pricked Vasu chettan's anxiety about the moral responsibility of experts and institutions. He has shades of our Gandhiji. My GOD, what would had happened if Gandhiji and other greats (including those faceless and nameless ones) had not recognized this moral responsibility while we were enslaved by the British?

Vasu chettan was particularly anxious about the impending SW monsoon (which is quite heavy in Thrissur) which will hit in 30-35 days time. The rain water will create  "point source pollution" in the neighbourhood wells. Sub surface lateral flow and leaching losses of all kinds of materials is a reality that will compound the miseries for this locality.  

The boundary between the plastic mountain and wall can have a vegetative belt

 I could go only to one side of the mountain. To mitigate or rather slow down the magnitude of sub-surface lateral flow and leaching losses, I suggest planting fast growing short rotation trees like Eucalypts or exotic Acacia (mangium or auriculiformis). I am quite aware of the concern of the environmentalists about these exotic species. I am also no lover of this two species either. But, at Laloor, our objective is simple and plain. We need to have some species that grows rapidly, suck up water (polluted one) and possibly, phyto-remediate too. These two species can do that (no confirmation on phyto-remediation). Moreover, these species also have a market as pulpwood (our HNL at Velloor can purchase it under their "Gate Purchase scheme"). If Eucalypts is chosen, it can be worked under the coppice system. This vegetative belt can either be of trees alone or can be a silvo-pasture (with Vetiver alias Ramacham). So apart from being a possible arrester of point source pollution, the aroma of Eucalypts sp. and Vetiver can ameliorate the environment and also provide some seed money for Laloor upliftment through the sale of pulpwood. 

This forestry solution is just a stop-gap arrangement for arresting the water pollutants for the Laloorians. But worth a try, isnt it?

Height of civic irresponsibility?

The citizenry is responsible!

We went of Laloor, in Thrissur, Kerala infamous as the dump yard of urban Thrissur. Set up in 1942 (according to Vasu chettan), this once-a-small-yard is now a mountain of  plastic waste and what not.

I am no expert in waste disposal. But the stroll around Laloor brings up some basic questions.

1. The wastes in Laloor are coming from small and big houses, firms and institutions. There is now sufficient awareness that plastic is non-biodegradable and its production and usage is banned. Then, how come the plastic is still coming to the dustbins and then find its way to Laloor? So, are not the people who put the plastic waste into their dustbins the first culprits? Why cant the garbage collectors who notice these plastic waste and whoo can identify the source admonish the violators? When plastic is banned and there is an official call for its recycling, the primary responsibility of the citizens is to go for zero-wastage!

2. The level of awareness about the perils of plastic is still low, it seems. That is why it is still being thrown out. As the saying goes, "civilization starts from the mothers lap". Targeting women (children must be encouraged to accompany their mother) for creating awareness about plastic is one simple, but very effective method. As homemakers, they take it up as their responsibility to clean the household garbage. They can make a huge difference by not allowing plastic in and out of their home.

3. The junk food culture is also responsible for this packing material and so wastage. Any packaged food item, starting with our simple meals, is full of plastic or other not-so-easily-biodegradable material. After eating this outside-food, we squeeze and crush the package material and dump it. Have you noticed that, when we cook food at home, are we generating any wastage? Yes, of course, some onion peels, this or that, all, biodegradable. Take a small piece of used newspaper (or paper bag) and collect all this bio-degradable stuff and put it in your dustbin. No problem.

4. In forestry, there was once a time when the govt gave licenses to forest based companies without checking whether they have the ability to get the raw materials. The companies after getting sanction started pestering the govt for entry into forest land and harvesting the bamboos and clearing the forest for cultivating the trees suitable for their firm. This created a havoc and the govt came up with a new policy which says that licenses will be given only if the firm can convince that there is an assured supply of raw materials. Likewise, the govt must ensure that the builders (flats and villas) set up a garbage disposal mechanism at their own expenses. let us stop the throw-away-culture.   

4. If we dont know how to dispose off the waste we create without harm to anyone, avoid creating it.  

Still, I have no idea how this Laloor waste mountain can be razed by not hurting anyone!

“Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita” (“Nature Protects if She is Protected”)

“Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita” (“Nature Protects if She is Protected”) is the slogan of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to be held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, from 1 to 19 October 2012.

Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of Environment and Forests of India, stated that the reverence for biodiversity is deep-rooted in Indian culture. Conservation of biodiversity is a national imperative for India since livelihoods of millions of our people is dependent on it.