Memorandum to Mayor
The PSG Group of Institutions that recently conducted a World Environment Day Awareness Rally on the “Melting Ice – A Hot Topic” has presented a memorandum to the Coimbatore Mayor, R. Venkatachalam, seeking improvements to the environmental conditions.The memorandum pointed out that environmental sustainability was essential for improving the health of the people through “the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we grow and eat.” The population was fast growing and its basic needs were on the rise dramatically. Hence, it was important to have a planned, sustainable development which would reflect on the health of the people.
To achieve the above, the memorandum suggested creation of a separate fund for conserving environment and urged the Mayor to have an allocation in the City Corporation Budget and to ensure that the same was exclusively used for the purpose.It also called for a meeting at the earliest to discuss the environmental issues confronting Coimbatore and develop a co-ordinated plan of action for the city. NGOs, educational institutions, Government departments and business establishments should be invited for discussion.
The memorandum pointed out that Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve was a part of the Western Ghats, which was one of the 34 bio-diversity hotspots in the world. NBR is the first Biosphere Reserve in India and was geographically placed in proximity to Coimbatore.
The Nilgiris continued to be one of the lifelines of Coimbatore city providing quality water, clean air and healthy food. The salubrious climate of Coimbatore was also due to the Nilgiris. The growing city will need to sustain access to such natural resources to meet the demands of the growing population for their basic existence and food security. It also called for initiating environmental conservation measures such as improving public transport systems. It also called for speeding up and intensifying urban afforestation project besides ensuring that all major development projects addressed environmental concerns too.
Recycling of water and conservation of water resources should be paid due attention besides measures for improving the ground water level.Green Star rating system should be awarded to establishments and institutions and Government departments for adhering to environmental-friendly measures to recognise and to encourage them, it said.
