फाजिल्का ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ संघर्षरत प्रथम शहर

Dec 04, 11:21 pm
फाजिल्का -प्रदूषण की समस्या विश्व के सभी देशों में बड़ी तीव्रता से फैल रही है। इस समस्या से मानव जाति ही नहीं, बल्कि वनस्पति, पशुधन व प्राकृतिक साधनों पर भी गहरा प्रभाव पड़ रहा है। इसका मुख्य कारण वाहनों से निकलने वाला धुआं अधिक है जो ग्लोबल वार्मिग का कारण बनता है। व‌र्ल्ड कार फ्री नेटवर्क कम्यूनिटी ने प्रदूषण की समस्या के समाधान के लिए अपने प्रयास जारी रखे है। सोसायटी ने एशिया महाद्वीप में पंजाब के फाजिल्का को ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ संघर्षरत प्रथम शहर घोषित किया है।
समुदाय ने अपनी मैगजीन कारबस्टर के 32वें संस्करण में फाजिल्का द्वारा ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ ट्रांसपोर्टेशनमें ऊर्जा बचत करने में प्रथम घोषित किया है। चेक गणराज्य से पंजीकृत यह समुदाय फाजिल्का की ग्रेजुएट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन द्वारा ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ किए जा रहे प्रयासों से बेहद प्रभावित है, क्योंकि एसोसिएशन भी उक्त समुदाय की तर्ज पर ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खतरे से लोगों को जागरूक कर रही है। एसोसिएशन की स्थापना फाजिल्का के ही मूल निवासी व रूड़की इंजीनियरिंग कालेज के सेवानिवृत्त प्रो. एवं उत्तराखंड में ऊर्जा पुरुष के खिताब से नवाजे गए डा. भूपिंदर सिंह ने की है। एसोसिएशन ने फाजिल्का को प्रदूषण रहित व हरा-भरा बनाने का संकल्प ले रखा है। इसी संकल्प के तहत सोसायटी ने 22 अप्रैल 2007 को शहर में एक साइकिल रैली निकालकर लोगों को प्रेरणा दी थी कि वे स्कूटर कारे आदि छोड़कर साइकिल का प्रयोग करे। अधिक से अधिक पैदल चलने का भी अभ्यास करे। इससे प्रदूषण की समस्या कुछ हद तक हल हो जाएगी। सोसायटी ने हाल ही में संपन्न शहर के 160वें स्थापना दिवस पर आयोजित फाजिल्का महोत्सव में लोगों को अधिक ऊर्जा खपत वाले बल्बों की बजाए सीफएल के प्रयोग के लिए भी प्रेरित किया है। इतना ही नहीं, एसोसिएशन फाजिल्का में स्वच्छ वातावरण पैदा करने के लिए एसडीएम कोर्ट रोड पर रेलवे के सहयोग से हरा भरा बाग व कभी फाजिल्का की शान हुआ करती प्राचीन बाधा झील (जो अब सूख चुकी है) को फिर से उन्नत करने के लिए भी जुटी हुई है।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_3961392.html

Fazilka: Asia’s first energy-saver town

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071206/bathinda.htm#9
Fazilka, December 5
The Czech Republic Magazine Carbuster in its 32nd issue, focusing on the theme ‘faith and environment” has selected Fazilka as the first Asian town for adopting the best energy saving practices to fight against global warming in transportation.
Fazilka has set the best example to reduce the effect of global warming. Using religion and world car free network, the city has been successful in bringing together organisations and individuals dedicated to promoting alternatives to car dependence at the local level and working to reduce the human impact on natural environment while improving the quality of life for all.
The campaign was started by the Patron of Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF), Bhupinder Singh, on April 22 on the occasion of ‘Earth Day’ by organising a cycle rally for senior citizens followed by installing hoardings of holy messages from Shri Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Nanak Dev Ji on ‘Dharti Tapan’ (global warming) in Fazilka.
The campaign got an impetus this year when global warming became the theme of the “Fazilka Heritage Festival-2007.”
According to a survey conducted by Bhupinder Singh, at present, Fazilka generates 17.5 tons of solid waste every day. Residents have been called upon to stop the use of plastic ware and use CFL lamps instead of the conventional electric bulbs to conserve energy.
Singh maintains that Fazilka is the safest town as no pedestrian and cyclist’s death has been reported in road mishaps within the city zone for a long time.
It is primarily because of 160-year-old narrow residential streets design by the erstwhile East India Company.
To protect the environment, a slogan “Ganga Maiyaa Hum Tere Apradhi, Prayshchit Karenge Cycle Chala Kar, Ped Laga Kar” has been chosen due to the alarming situation arising out of the shrinking of Sunderban delta every year.
One thousand tree samplings have been planted along the Freedom Fighter road in the last five years. This stretch of road and its surrounding areas has been successfully converted into a zero-pollution zone.
The Indian Army has planted more than 9,000 tree samplings in and around Fazilka to bring more land under a green cover. 500 tree samplings have been planted and maintained by progressive farmers at different places.
This year, more than 3000 ‘sheesham’ samplings were gifted and planted by the progressive farmers.
Sub-divisional magistrate of Fazilka Rajiv Prashar has also taken up an initiative to check environmental pollution by imposing a ban on all school children up to the age of 18 years from going to school on automobiles.

Punjab town uses relegion to fight against Global Warming

Fazilka Residents To Put Up Banners With Gurbani Teachings
Times of India, Chandigarh Edition, 28th June, 2007
Times News Network

Chandigarh: There is a “divine” initiative, coated with religious messages, coming from Fazilka, a small town in the border belt of Punjab, in aid of global fight against environmental warming. The Graduate Welfare Association of Fazilka (GWAF) has made flexi banners with Guru Nanak’s shabad (holy words) from Gurbani (Sikhs’ book of hymns by the Gurus). These banners would be placed in or around temples and gurdwaras in the town. The shabads state: “Pawan guru pani pita mat dharat mahat, diwas raat dui dai daiyan khele sagal jagat” and “rati ruti thiti var, pawan pani agani patal tus wich dharti thapi dharm saal.” In gist, it ask the followers to keep the earth and environment intact for healthy living and to preserve the health of earth as that of any other member of the family. ‘‘There are many small steps suggested in Gurbani which can have a magnified impact on the lives of people,’’ believed Navdeep Asija, head of GWAF, and brain behind the campaign. The religious angle was given, as the sub-division has a low literacy rate and people are religious-minded, he said. ‘‘It was meant to reach out to the masses,’’ Asija added. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Asija is doing his bit in his hometown in Fazilka. It could be a small initiative here, but could set an example for the rest of the world to follow. ‘‘It is not a big trouble for Fazilka, but our effort will have a global impact,’’ Asija said. His group would be observing an environment fortnight and would host a seminar conducted by IIT Rurkee’s retired professor Bhupinder Singh soon. Asija told TOI that the group has also registered 56 Fazilka residents who have promised to revert back to bicycle to travel shorter distances and would use fuelrun vehicles only when required urgently. The banners also ask people to use bicycles instead of fuel-run vehicles, solar energy instead of combustible fuels, and refrain from overexploitation of natural resources. In Punjab, where most of the damage to the environment came from the use of chemical fertilisers, vehicular pollution and illegal constructions, these messages seem well placed, as small towns like Fazilka are rapidly picking up the pace of globalisation and of course pollution.

Sikhs hail campaign Asija’s ideas have been well taken by Sikh scholars across the state. ‘‘Most of the words/ideas in Gurbani are still relevant and have a lasting impact in the present context,’’ said a Sikh scholar. Most of the Sikh leaders these days are busy building and breaking relations with Dera, but SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar praised the slogans and said, “Sikh scriptures are well thought out and foresee possible threats to human lives.”

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/TOICG/2007/06/28/TOICG_2007_6_28_22.pdf
http://trilochankaur.blogspot.com/2007/06/punjab-town-uses-religion-to-fight.html