By IANS
New Delhi : Several NGOs and groups in the capital will observe World Environment Day Tuesday by organising a string of events aimed at creating awareness towards saving the environment from further deterioration.
Toxics Link, an environmental NGO, is organising an E-awareness week starting Tuesday to draw people's attention towards electronic waste, which is increasingly polluting the environment.
"As technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, it is leaving behind a big chunk of electronic waste that comprises discarded cell phones, computers, music players and refrigerators. This urban waste has been recognised globally as a potent threat to the environment and people," said Parvinder Singh of Toxics Link.
Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA), a civil society group, will organise a seminar here to discuss various factors that are threatening the lifeline of Delhi – the Yamuna.
One of the major issues the group will take up is the harmful effect of several constructions on the floodplain of the river. "Raising of the Commonwealth Games 2010 village on the river bed of the Yamuna, against all expert advise and looming threats, is a national fraud.
"Not only do such constructions contribute towards polluting the Yamuna, they expose the vulnerabilities of this area to the masses because the river bed lies on the seismic zone. Hence it is prone to devastation in case of an earthquake," said Manoj Misra of YJA.
The British Council, meanwhile, is set to screen seven short films on wildlife crime on World Environment Day. Revolving around themes of endangered species like butterflies, bears, elephants, leopards, marine corals, turtles and tigers, the films will be presented under the title 'Preserve the Future – Conserving India's Wild Heritage'. They have been produced under the UK Environment Film Fellowships 2006.
Swecha, a voluntary group, screened a documentary "Wasted" at the British Council on the eve of World Environment Day itself.
Said Vimlendu Jha, director of Swecha: "Every day you dump your garbage and forget about it. Do you know where it goes? This film traces the path of the garbage from your household to the landfills and beyond – to the rivers that pollutes the land and water incessantly."
"Wasted" aims at drawing one's attention towards the culture of producing waste and more of the non-biodegradable variety, which harms the environment to no end.
"Twenty years back, the average amount of waste produced by each family was seven kilos per year but now it has increased to 20 kilos. Of that, 80 percent is non-biodegradable," Jha told IANS.
Apart from the film screening, a cultural programme called "Yamunotsav – Celebration of the River" was also held Monday.