A three day Environment Workshop was held for nearly 110 Parisarakkaagi Naavu (We are for the Environment) members from all over Karnataka at Kankumbi in the Western Ghats of Khanapur Taluka of Belagavi District recently. The workshop began with the rendition of the Kannada version of Gandhiji’s favorite psalm ‘Vaishnava Janatho’.
Parushuramegouda, one of the founder members of Parisarakkagi Naavu, in his inaugural address, emphasized the need for a state level organisation by narrating an American fable: Once a forest was aflame. A small bird that had nested in the forest felt anguished. It flew back and forth fetching drops of water in its beak to extinguish the flames. Other animals in the forests commented that the bird’s efforts were futile. “This great forest has given me life. I can’t simply be an onlooker. That is the reason why I am trying to extinguish the fire to the best of my ability.” responded the bird, and continued with the task at hand.
Parashurmegouda pointed out that when the environment around us and the planet as a whole is experiencing convulsive throes brought upon by collective human actions one cannot be by-siders and mute spectators. The need of the hour is to act unitedly to save our home –The Earth.
The organising team lead of Belagavi group, Nyla Coelho, elucidated that the purpose of holding the workshop at Kankumbi was to draw the attention of the State’s polity, citizens, and environmentalists to environmental concerns of this region of the Western Ghats and of North Karnataka. Further, expressing acute anxiety over the many environmentally unsound proposed and sanctioned infrastructure projects and rampant change in land use pattern in the Bhimgad Sanctuary surrounds and its adjacent contiguous forests in Belagavi district, and within Karnataka, Goa and South Maharashtra, all the way from Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and the adjacent protected forests of Goa – all of which is an established Tiger Corridor. The rain forests in this particular area of Western Ghats are facing a great threat, she added. The draught in Karnataka this year has brought home the fact, all the more acutely, of the urgent need to protect our Western Ghats forests which bring us the monsoons and provision for the birth of many rivers in the region – specially the Malaprabha and the Mahadayi. The sub theme of the workshop was to also highlight the need for all of us to reconnect with our rivers; in this case, the River Malaprabha (Aviral Nirmal Nirantar Sundar, Hamari Apni Malaprabha) and restore it to its old state of what it used to be half a century ago.
All the participants received a unique kit – a bag made by women from up-cycled fabric, a notebook with the three Malaprabha Ugam Stan Temples at Kankumbi on its cover, and a calendar depicting the rich forests, biodiversity, and peoples’ culture of the region juxtaposed against the possible environmental threats and the consequences of our apathy.
Two Kannada books by veteran writers and climate change communicators about the present day scenario of climate change, environment, and bio-diversity crisis by Nagraj Adve (Translated by K.P.Suresh) and Nagesh Hegde were released on the occasion.
The Keynote address was delivered by scientist and writer Sagar Dhara on the converging crisis of the 21st century and the consequences that will unfold in the years to come on three fronts; energy, economy, environment, as the main driver of development i.e. access to cheap fossil fuels are on the verge of complete depletion. His presentation on the build up to the present day crisis traversed the canvas of human civilization from the early days to the industrial revolution era to the present.
In the afternoon, K P Suresh and Soil Vasu presented detailed descriptions about soil protection and Government policies. Soil Vasu emphasized the importance of upper layer of soil and organic farming. Anjaneya Reddy of Chickballpura and Nirmala Gowda of Paani.Earth Foundation, Bengaluru spoke on the need for saving water resources and also shared experiences of their right and information based interventions to safeguard rivers from hazardous effluent contamination by industries and municipalities in Bengaluru, Ramanagara and Kolar districts.
The workshop on 2nd morning began with the rendition of a prayer, followed by the song, ‘Ye Nadi Hamari Malaprabha’ by the school children of Kankumbi Village.
The keynote address for the day was delivered by Padmashree Norma Alvares with a detailed presentation on the various Environmental Laws. Adv Norma Alvares and her colleague, Adv Om D’Costa pointed out that the Right to information Act (RTI) is an extremely helpful provision for addressing environmental concerns. And that, the active participation of local citizens and Panchayat level bodies is critical in such efforts. Adv Vinay Shrinivas stressed on the need for understanding local environment problems, and explained the various Environmental Acts and Rules specific to Karnataka.
In the afternoon session, veteran journalist and writer, Nagesh Hegde, spoke of the need for good communicators to take the message of the present day climate induced hazards to ordinary citizens at large. Shreekumar, in his presentation, elaborated on sustainable land tending practices and sustainable lifestyle. He spoke from his personal experience as the founding member of the Sangatya community homestead at Nakre, Karkala in Dakshina Kannada district.
On the third day, March 3rd, Adv Basavaprabhu Hosakeri and Janardan Kesaragadde elaborated on the importance and the nitty-gritty in framing well thought out constitution and by-laws for the proposed organisation –Parisarakkaagi Naavu. Shri Dileep Kamat and Dr Prakash Bhat threw light on the intricacies of executing policies and carrying them to the commoners, and the ground realities of organisation building and taking people along in environmental struggles.
Committees and sub committees for the proposed organisation were formed and elaborate discussions were held. Concluding the three day workshop Dr Sanjeev Kulkarni asserted that there is a need for building a strong environmentalists’ group and that persistent united efforts are much required on our part.
During discussions, participants brought up the matter of the proposed dam and diversion projects on the River Mahadayi and its tributaries Kalasa and Bhandhura. Many concerns were raised and inferences made regarding the possible outcome and consequences of undertaking such a project on the forests and wildlife of Bhimgad Sanctuary, its implications vis-à-vis the Tiger and wildlife corridor; the large scale destruction of forests and its subsequent consequences; the loss of rainfall and setting in of desertification of North Karnataka region etc., if such projects were executed.
Workshop participants visited the River Malaprabha origin at Kankumbi and nearby areas of environmental interest. Display posters of eco-friendly house construction, flora and fauna of the Western Ghats of the Kankumbi region, the work of Paani.Earth Foundation; products from recycled materials and exhibition of soil samples; spinning on takli and charka; exhibition and sale of Khanapur Taluaka pottery artefacts were part of the workshop. Apart from the formal sessions, presentations were made by many on various environment related topics and practices.
A dance and song was performed by the women of Kankumbi which was an immersive experience for the participants to the cultural ethos of the village so much so that all workshop participants joined them cheerfully; dancing and singing along. The participants returned to their respective places reinvigorated and with strengthened commitment to the cause of working towards creating and sustaining a healthy natural and social environment in the state of Karnataka.