Identifying environmental degradation as the main reason behind the prevailing heat wave and drought in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised that a mass movement is required
Identifying environmental degradation as the main reason behind the prevailing heat wave and drought in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised that a mass movement is required to save forests and conserve “every drop” of water during the forthcoming monsoon season.
In his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat, Mr Modi, who recently reviewed the drought condition with chief ministers of 10 severely affected states, said that many of them, like Andhra Pradesh, had taken some good initiatives towards water conservation and that he had asked Niti Aayog to study the best practices for their replication all over the country.
During the 30-minute broadcast, the Prime Minister also urged the countrymen to practice Yoga for illness-free life and informed that on the International Yoga Day on June 21, he would join a programme in Chandigarh.
Referring to the intense heat wave being witnessed in the country, he said concerns increased few days back when news came in that monsoon could be delayed by a week beyond June 1.
“Most parts of the country are experiencing intense heatwave. Be it humans, birds or animals, all are troubled. It is only because of environment that such problems continue to increase. Depletion of forests has been going on, trees continue to be cut. In a way, the humankind itself destroyed the environment and put itself on the path of destruction,” he said.
He mentioned the recent cases of fire in forests of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the root cause of such incidents is that there are dry leaves and little carelessness. “That is why, saving forests and conserving water becomes everybody’s responsibility,” Mr Modi said.
“I urge the countrymen, let us decide that we will not let even a drop of water go waste during June, July, August and September (comprising Monsoon season)... The issue of water concerns not only the farmers but everybody... The rainy (Monsoon) season is coming. Start the preparations now to see where to save water,” he said.
The Prime Minister also referred to the upcoming Rio Olympic Games and asked the countrymen to contribute to encourage the participants from India.
“An environment should be created to encourage the Indian participants. Everybody should contribute in his own way. Whatever may be the results. It is sports after all.. One may win or lose but the spirits should be high,” he said.
He had words of praise for the incumbent Assam chief minister and Union sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal for visiting Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala to see the arrangements and facilities for the Indian participants of the Rio Olympics in the midst of Assembly elections in Assam, where he was the chief ministerial candidate.
Mr Modi said he was “very happy” to learn that Mr Sonowal had paid a surprise visit to the NIS, even when everybody was anxious to know the results in Assam Assembly polls.
Incidentally, Mr Sonowal on Sunday resigned from the Union Cabinet, as he has to head the new BJP-led government in Assam as chief minister. He is to take oath on May 24.
