Jacob Hembrom SJ
We hardly care to hear and feel the painful groaning of the mother earth, though it is acute. It is in need of our immediate assistance. We have been so cruel towards her by distorting her beautiful appearance. We all are busy in fulfilling our whims and fancies by disfiguring our beautiful mother earth.
In imitation of development in other countries, we plan projects like ‘Central Vista’, the new Parliament House in Delhi. Such project has direct and negative impact on environment. All the greenery in the area will face clearance. Some environmental experts term such clearances as “green-washing”.
There are similar instances in Santal Pargana of Jharkhand, India. Lalmatia in Godda district and Pachuara in Pakur district of Jharkhand have large quarries and mines. Productive and cultivable land is being destroyed to excavate coal. The land belongs to poor tribals. Their identity and livelihood have depended on these lands. Can we call it ‘development’?
The gradual clearance of green environment causes drought. The ultimate sufferers are poor farmers. In order to combat against desertification and drought we need to vibrate with nature. We ought to feel and sense the need for plunging into preventive action for saving it.