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Mumbai: V. Appukuttan is a pleased man these days after getting Mumbai's civic body to sanction funds for the revival of the once pristine Powai lake. Eleven-year-old school girl Purna Singh distributes cloth bags to local shopkeepers to spread awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution.
Purna has not forgotten the 2005 floods in the city when drains clogged by plastic belched into the streets. "I was at my friend's place and was forced to stay over for two days because my village was overrun by flood waters," she recalls.
Purna and Appukuttan are among a growing number of residents striving to inspire this metropolis of nearly 15 million to change its ways. Yesterday, school children, scientists, executives, housewives, senior citizens and civic body representatives came together to observe World Earth Day at an event organised by the Young Environmentalists Programme at the Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.
"We believe that Earth Day is an important reminder each year and a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world," said Elsie Gabriel, president of the organisation.
For a man used to facing criticism from the public, Anand Jagtap, Officer on Special Duty, Sewage Disposal Project, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, had some advise of his own. "There are too many critics in our country but very few who take a positive approach," he said urging people to change their attitude to environmental issues.
RAK rally
The smallest of the small showed their concern for the environment in Ras Al Khaimah. Toddlers from the Little Oxford Nursery and Day Care, Khuzam, marked Earth Day with an awareness rally that saw them hitting a popular mall with placards bearing slogans like: "Save the Earth, it's the only planet with chocolates", "A clean Earth is our birth right," "Simple actions make a big difference," "Save water," etc.
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