SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL DIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JURISPRUDENCE: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AT CHANDIGARH UNIVE

Hon’ble Vice-President,

International and National Supreme Court and High Court Judges,

Chancellor, Chandigarh University,

Advocates, Professors, Academicians, Parents and dear students.

I am extremely happy and honored to be here at the International Conference on Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence: National and International Perspectives.

I am grateful to Hon’ble Vice President of India and Chandigarh University for the opportunity given to me to address this august gathering and share my thoughts.

Every conference requires lot of efforts since the inception. This Conference has also brainstormed addressing a variety of important themes and sub-themes giving enduring value to every discussion.

This Conference on Environmental Law is very important as there are many issues which need to be immediately addressed not only at the National level but also at the International level.

Friends,

Human development in the 21st century is directly linked to protecting environmental resources from mindless consumption and destruction. Maintaining ecological balance, already rendered fragile by the excesses of the 20th century, is integral to development programmes.

The world's population has tripled in this century alone and is expected to double or triple in the next. The global economy may grow by a factor of five or ten including with it extreme rates of energy consumption, carbon dioxide production, and deforestation . So, we have to consider the prospects of global suffering and environmental degradation unlike anything in human history.

Statistical Data shows that there are en numbers ofrivers which have dried up and many of the species of animal and birds are at the verge of disappearing or have already disappeared.

The Global Sea level is increasing rapidly creating a new record high of 91.3 mm (or 3.6 inches) above the 1993 levels. This is the because of global warming and the melting of ice in Antarctica.

The unseasonal rains have resulted in destruction of crops and natural habitats. The use of artificial manure for agriculture with the intention of high yields has resulted in poor soil-health.

Higher demand for irrigation has resulted in depletion of underground water level. These problems are not only pertaining to a particular nation but as a whole is a threat to the entire world .

Balance between Development and Environment is an important part of our ancient tradition. Our scriptures have always taught us the balance of the relationship of animals and nature. It is said in our country that यत् पिंडे तत् ब्रह्मांडे i.e., the body that is in the living entity is in the universe. Everything we do for ourselves directly affects our environment.

Manusmriti also mentions about the protection of environment and its importance for the preservation of environment and ecological balance. It says that injuring medicinal plants, cutting down shrubs, herbs, etc. should be followed by penance.

Vishnu Purana and Matsya Purana states that if the society fails to maintain ecological balance, it will get devastated. Hunting too is prohibited. Varah Purana says that- Planting one peepal, one neem, ten flowering plants or creepers, two pomegranates, two oranges, five mangoes protect from falling in hell.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev said “Pavan Guru Panni Pita Mata DharatMahat” (Air is our teacher, Water is our father, And the Great Earth is our mother),” which means that our environment is like our family.

It is very important to organize our efforts to protect the climate and environment. We will be able to give a safe environment to every coming generations only when every citizen of every country makes a united effort to maintain the balance of water, air and land.

I say “every citizen of every country” because the environmental standards in any part of the world have some Ripple Effect and Impact on other parts of the world too. No one can think today in isolation as in a shrinking world, our interests overlap and are often dependent on each other.

This underscores the need for greater cooperation and understanding between countries for the common cause. No country today can call itself immune to the havoc nature can cause. Corona is itself an instance of such an unfortunate development where all the world has been united in loss and grief by a natural disaster spanning continents, creeds and races.

I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not for his or her self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. Universal responsibility is the real key to human survival.

Our ancient scriptures speak of the container and the contained. The world is the Container - our house And we are the Contained- the contents of the container. From this we deduce a special relationship that without the container, the contents cannot be contained. Without the contents, the container contains nothing, it's meaningless.

Our ancestors viewed the earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it. Destruction in the past that resulted from ignorance.

Today, however, we have access to more information. It is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. Clearly this is a pivotal generation. Global communication is possible; We have the capability and the responsibility. We must act before it is too late.

Friends, protecting our environment does not necessarily mean putting a stop to development activity, nor does it mean putting a half to progress. We have to look for pragmatic solutions to problems posed by development projects.

We have to bear in mind their long term impact on the environment and ecology of the region, the State and the nation. Our model has to be one that ensures sustainable development. We have to balance Progress and Consumption with Conservation of resources.

Often, in our haste to deliver we overlook the long term impact of development projects. But, before today’s success turns into tomorrow’s failure, Let us synergize economic development and environmental resources.

Unfortunately, the initiatives at environmental protection are painstakingly slow. Global countries are very reluctant to sacrifice their immediate gains for the greater good of humanity, through measures that compromise luxury or material advantages. Mindless destruction and depletion of the resources continues unabated in different degrees in almost all countries.

Friends,

I feel piecemeal measures sporadically taken up by local governments won’t make much of a difference unless such measures are sustained over time and supported by all.

Ideas may travel from the top down, but the movements that put them into effect have to work from the bottom up.

We need to usher movement that involves the people - “ People’s Participation”. It is only when we give people a direct stake in protecting the environment—be it watershed management, forest conservation on pollution control – that they will become active partners of Government.

To achieve this goal, I believe a sustained awareness campaign that involves panchayats, community organizations, voluntary associations, municipal bodies, corporate sector and educational institutions, is a must.

I look forward to fruitful deliberations at this Conference.

I would like to conclude by stating that, in general, I feel optimistic about the future. The rapid changes in our attitude towards the earth are a source of hope. As recently as a decade or two ago, we thoughtlessly devoured the resources of the world, as if there were no end to them. We failed to realize that unchecked consumerism was disastrous for both the environment and social welfare. Now, both individuals and governments are seeking a new Ecological and Economic order. And the Environmentalists are working 24x7 for the protection of environment.

The present International Conference on Environment and Environmental Jurisprudence is also one such step. The eminent intellectuals and their thoughts after deliberation will be delivering good results.

I am hopeful that we can get into an active and fruitful discussion and the Conference will leave us motivated, empowered and ready to do things differently.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.