As on August 20, 2004

On the World Environment Day, held on June 5, 2003, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, during his inaugural speech at Paribesh Bhaban declared that the day-long event would be turned into a year-long campaign for the protection of environment, forest and wildlife. That was the beginning - the genesis of what we today call the Environmental Campaign, jointly undertaken by the state Department of Environment and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB). The WBPCB campaign has two prime aspects - the programmes on awareness-raising and operational programmes. While the former fosters a clear awareness of the current environmental concerns, the latter is aimed to have a direct positive impact on the lives of the people. The target groups of the campaign range from school/college students to government officials and from research bodies to general public.

The Board recently celebrated World Environment Day 2004. On this special day, which also marked the completion of one year of the Environmental Campaign of the Board, the Chief Minister stressed upon the seven-point agenda for the forthcoming year. He emphasised that environmental awareness must be raised, especially with the help of non-governmental organisations and the print and electronic media.

In order to formulate a comprehensive environmental programme for the state, various collaborative ventures were undertaken with departments and organisations of the state and central government as well as with eminent non-government organisations (NGOs), by way of incorporating the environmental component of their activities in the campaign. The key collaborators include Birla Industrial Technological Museum (BITM), Institute of Wetland Management & Ecological Design (IWMED), Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS), WWF-India, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Calcutta University and National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS). The various events conducted under the Environmental Campaign of the WBPCB is summarised below.

Zero Plastic Waste Campaign

Discarded plastics pose a threat to human health and environment. Due to its non-biodegradable nature, littering of plastics causes irreversible damage to the environment. Thus the very first component of the WBPCB campaign was the drive against the use of plastic carry bags, especially at the heritage/tourist sites where a blanket ban on plastic carry bags was imposed. In order to enforce the ban order, on-site visits were made in four phases at these ten widely-visited sites, namely Victoria Memorial, Millenium Park, Zoological Garden, National Library, Rabindra Sarobar, Subhas Sarobar, Indian Botanic Garden, Bandel Church, Hazarduari Palace and Belur Math, as illustrated in the table below.

VISIT TO THE HERITAGE/TOURIST SITES

A blanket ban on the use, sale and manufacture of plastic carry bags was already in place, from September 2001, in the ecologically sensitive areas of West Bengal, namely, Sundarbans, Coastal Regulation Zone areas, Darjeeling hills and entire forest area of the state. Thus two awareness campaign on the disposal of plastic waste was carried out in collaboration with WWF-India. The first one was at Mal Road, Darjeeling, held on 01.11.2003 where 50 students from five schools of the Darjeeling district took part and the second was a three-day event (25.12.2003 - 27.12.2003) at Sonakhali ferryghat, Sundarban, where 130 local school students and teachers from 23 eco-clubs participated.

As part of its campaign against plastic carry bags, the Board has been engaged in finding viable substitutes to plastic carry bags, which have been posing a major environmental problem in the state. In the light of environmental and health risks, it is desirable to reduce the quantum of plastic waste generated, by minimising the use of plastic carry bags, reusing them in our daily lives and most importantly, by using carry bags made of biodegradable materials. In order to promote the latter, the WBPCB has organised three workshops to provide technical training to the individuals and organisations interested to take up projects on the manufacture of carry bags made of eco-friendly materials like paper, grass, cloth and jute. These workshops help encourage the use of biodegradable carry bags and reduce plastic waste considerably. The first workshop was organised at Paribesh Bhaban, Salt Lake City on 30.08.2003. On the same evening, a meeting was organised to discuss the feasibility of switching over to eco-friendly bags in the shops and markets of Kolkata. The speakers included big shopowners of Kolkata, representatives from various municipalities, bankers and NGOs who produce and manufacture carry bags from alternative materials - in short, the key players who are responsible in making WBPCB’s campaign against plastic carry bags a success. The meeting was followed by an exhibition of eco-friendly products that could be used as viable alternatives to plastic carry bags. The second workshop, which was organised for a separate set of organisations/individuals, was held at the Camac Street Regional Office of the WBPCB on 28.11.2003. About 48-odd participants took part in the training sessions of the workshop, which were conducted by trainers of various NGOs. The third workshop was also organised at Paribesh Bhaban, Salt Lake City on April 16, 2004. About 22 participants attended the training sessions of this workshop, which was conducted by the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy.

Noise Pollution

Training programmes on various aspects of environmental pollution were organised for the police personnel and the officers of the Forest Department. So far, 110 police personnel from Kolkata Police, 15 MV Inspectors and 82 police personnel from the West Bengal Police were trained during nine individual programmes held at Paribesh Bhaban, Salt lake, where experts from the Department of Forest, Department of Environment and the NUJS imparted training to the police officials.

During Durga Puja 2003, all the offices of the Board organised noise monitoring sessions in their respective jurisdiction during the days of Sasthi (01.10.03), Saptami (02.10.03), Asthami (03.10.03) & Nabami (04.10.03). The monitoring programmes were held in Kolkata, Salt Lake, parts of 24 Parganas (N) & (S), Howrah, Haldia, Hooghly, Barrackpore, Durgapur, Asansol and Siliguri. In order to receive public complaints over telephone, a Central Control Room was set up at the head office of the WBPCB, located at Paribesh Bhaban and other Control Rooms, located at the Regional Offices of the Board. In 2003 during Durga Puja, 63 complaints were received against the indiscriminate use of microphones and banned fireworks. Noise monitoring programmes were conducted at Kolkata, Howrah and other district towns of West Bengal during the days of Kali Puja (24.10.03) and Dipawali (25.10.03). The WBPCB had received 70 complaints during Kali Puja (40) and Dipawali (30) in 2003. The Board also conducted noise pollution monitoring during the days of Jagaddhatri Puja (31.10.03 to 02.11.03) at Chandannagore, Bhadreswar and Rishra, and New Year’s Eve (31.12.03) at Kolkata. Violators are being called for hearing at the Board’s office at Paribesh Bhaban for regulatory action.

Environmental Studies

The Board organised several workshops under the theme ‘Environmental Studies’ in association with the JBNSTS. About 18 school and college teachers participated in a training programme held on and from 15.08.2003 to 18.08.2003 at Paribesh Bhaban, Salt Lake. The idea of this programme was to inculcate the importance of environmental protection among the teachers to convey the same to the students by undertaking various environmental awareness related activities in their schools and colleges. The JBNSTS conducted another four-day workshop (17.10.03 & 18.10.03, 20.10.03 & 21.10.03) on environmental studies at the National Council for Science Museum, Salt Lake City. 25 students from the districts of Purulia, Medinipur, Nadia, Hooghly and Kolkata participated in the programme. Another workshop on ‘Physics & Environment’ was conducted by the JBNSTS at Howrah Jogesh Chandra Girls' High School on and from 26.05.04 to 30.05.04. About 60 students of classes VII & VIII of the schools in Howrah district participated in the workshop which included features like water pollution, noise pollution and biodiversity. At Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, JBNSTS conducted another workshop titled ‘Vacation Classes’ on and from 30.05.04 to 11.06.04. About 55 Students of Classes XI & XII of schools of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Kolkata attended this workshop, which focussed on issues such as urban area & environment, atmospheric science, ‘Our Feathered Friends’ & Joint Forest Management.

Under the same theme, various events were undertaken by the WBPCB in association with WWF-India, which included an inter-college debate held on 20.12.03 at Siliguri. Also a workshop on soil testing was held on 25.11.2003 - 26.11.2003 at Smriti Soudhya, Nimtouri where 110 students from 13 schools of the district of Purba Medinipore participated. Another workshop on soil testing was held on 10.01.2004 at Laulara RC Academy, Purulia for 120 school students of 16 schools of Purulia. On 11.01.04, about 50 students participated in an inter-college debate on East-West Corridor organised at Gorumara Interpretation Centre, Siliguri. Another debate titled ‘Development vs Environment’ was organised on 01.03.2004 for the university and college students at Ballygunge Science College Hall, Kolkata. WWF-India conducted a workshop on ‘Medicinal Plant & Rainwater Harvesting’ at Gymkhana Club, Darjeeling on and from 14.06.04 to 15.06.04. About 35 students and teachers from 11 schools (including 2 NGO members) participated in the camp.

On 1^st and 2^nd August 2003, a two-day training programme was organised, where 12 post-graduate students from the Department of Environment Science, Ashutosh College acquired training on various environmental issues, laws and practices.

The WBPCB conducted a Training Programme for NGOs working in the districts of North Bengal. Held at the Siliguri Regional Office on 23.04.04, the WBPCB officials imparted training to 40 participants on various aspects of environmental pollution.

Biodiversity

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of the world's organisms, including their genetic diversity and the assemblages they form. In order to create awareness for nature and promote an understanding of the concepts of biodiversity, a special awareness programme was organised for the visually challenged children. 95 students from three blind schools, namely Lighthouse for the Blind, Blind Boy’s Academy (Narendrapur) and Calcutta Blind School (Behala) participated in the campaign. This campaign, which was jointly organised by the BITM at their campus on 10.07.03, included these features such as identification exercises of sound sources and birds calls, sensing the smell of nature etc. A similar programme was arranged by the BITM on 25.07.2003 for the physically and mentally challenged students of the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy, Taratolla Road, Kolkata at their campus. About 85 students participated in the programme. The Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Environment and Information Technology, Shri Manabendra Mukherjee and Shri Hirak Ghosh, Principal Secretary, Deptt. of Environment & Chairman, West Bengal Pollution Control Board were present on the occasion. Also the State Department of Environment arranged an intensive state-level workshop at Paribesh Bhaban on 11.12.03, in order to discuss the various issues related to Biodiversity Conservation in West Bengal.

Under the same theme, various programmes have been organised in association with WWF-India, to make the school students understand the various aspects of biodiversity, which is essential for developing a perception of its conservation. Four events on the study of birds, one at Jalapahar, Darjeeling and the other at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri were organised for the local school students on 14.11.2003 and 10.12.2003 respectively. On 16.11.2003, 50 students were taken for a bird watching trip from Jorebanglow to Bagora. Again on 06.12.2003, 50 students and 10 teachers participated in a bird watching programme held at Rajabhatkhawa.

About 120 potted medicinal plants were distributed among school students of the district of 24 Parganas(N) at Nivedita Sishu Tirtha, Gobardanga, 24 Parganas (N) on 15.11.03. A study programme on medicinal plants was also held on 06.12.2003 at Narendrapur RK Mission and the Indian Botanic Gardens, which was attended by 50 students. On 14.01.04, about 60 students of the schools of North 24-Parganas District participated in a workshop on survey of Flora & Fauna in and around school area, held at Nabapally Boys High School, Barasat, 24 Pgs (N). In another programme organised by WWF-India at Bijoynagar Adarsha Vidyamandir, Bali Island, Sunderban on 30.01.04, about 120 potted medicinal plants were distributed among 700 students of 24 schools (five each) of the area. 65 students and teachers from 16 schools of the district of Purba Medinipore participated in the workshop on ‘Plantation’ held on 16.07.04 at Smriti Soudha, Nimtouri, Purba Medinipur.

The Board has set up an Experimental-cum-Medicinal Plant Garden named "Parasar Udyan" at the Bidhannagar College Campus, which was inaugurated on 13.04.04 at 10.00 a.m. A rainwater harvesting system (set up by the WBPCB) is existing in the same campus. This twin project has been designed in a way that the rainwater collected from the water harvesting system could be used for the medicinal plant garden.

Forests and Wildlife

Under the theme ‘Forests and Wildlife’ of the campaign, a nature trail was jointly organised with the BITM at the Science City Complex on 10.09.2003. About 201 students from four schools of Kolkata experienced the fun and excitement of observing various plants and animals by taking a simple walk through nature. In association with WWF-India, another nature trail on tree study was organised at the Victoria Memorial Hall on 07.11.2003 where 182 students from 12 schools of Kolkata took active participation. On 22.12.03, a nature trail on marine diversity was organised and attended by 100 students and teachers at Udaypur, Medinpur. About 180 students from 10 schools of 24 Pgs(N) district participated in a ‘Green Scout Camp’ that was organised in association with WWF-India on and from 02.06.04 to 06.06.04 at Salt Lake Stadium. WWF-India conducted a teachers’ training workshop on medicinal plants on and from 12.06.04 to 13.06.04. 24 teachers from 11 schools of Jalpaiguri district participated in the workshop.

In order to institutionalise the worldview of ‘learning from one another’, the WBPCB have collaborated with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), NGO Component of the Kolkata Environmental Improvement Project (KEIP) for the implementation of awareness-generation and community development programmes for children of Kolkata. These programmes focussed on critical areas related to sustainable development, conservation of nature and safe community practices that together underpin larger issues of good urban governance. In this regard, 12 nature trails were organised at different locations, the details of which are tabulated below.

NATURE TRAIL PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY TERI

* Nature, natural resource, environment and society

The state departments of Environment and Forest have jointly organised competitions for students of higher classes of the schools in West Bengal under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme to organise events and competitions under the theme "nature, natural resource, environment and society". This programme is aimed at spreading environmental awareness among children of 2850 schools including the schools for the mentally and physically challenged students. While the WBPCB is the State Nodal Agency for the implementation of this programme in our state, Paschim Banga Vigyan Mancha has been implementing the programme on behalf of the WBPCB. Under this programme, there are four individual events, namely, Sit and Draw Competition, Making Posters with a Slogan, Essay Writing Competition and Project Preparation and four group events, namely, Nature Quest, Medicinal Plant Garden, Biodiversity and Eco-club Diary.

The district-level toppers of the four individual events, and, the candidates securing the first, second and third positions for the individual events and the top group (for the group events) at the state level were the prime participants in the camps. The two nature camps coming as a reward for the winners of these events were aimed to cultivate a sense of caring and appreciation for the environment, and to inculcate a sense of environmental responsibility among the children. While in the first camp held at Ayodhya Hills, Purulia, 50 school students from 13 South Bengal districts participated, a total number of 36 school students and 10 teachers-in-charge from six northern districts of West Bengal participated in the Sukna camp. The first nature camp was held at Ayodhya Hill, Purulia on and from January 22 to January 25, 2004. The Hon’ble Shri Manabendra Mukherjee, Minister-in-charge, Departments of Environment & Information Technology, Government of West Bengal, inaugurated the nature camp at the Ayodhya Range Office Campus on January 23, 2004 at 10 a.m. The Birla Industrial Technological Museum and Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha were the key collaborators of the programme. The second nature camp was held at Sukna Campus of Wildlife Division-I on and from on and from June 6 to June 8, 2004. The Camp was inaugurated at Sukna Campus of Wildlife Division-I of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of Forest, Government of West Bengal, on June 6, 2004 at 4:00 p.m.

As part of the awareness-generation programmes of TERI [NGO Component KEIP], 14 sit & draw competitions were organised at Safari Park and Deshbandhu Park, the details of which is tabulated below. In addition, a programme on wall painting was organised at KMC Ward No. 33 on 14.06.04 for 20 children residing in the ward.

SIT & DRAW COMPETITIONS ORGANISED BY TERI

Also four prize-distribution ceremonies for events such as sit-and-draw competition and puppet shows were conducted under this theme, the details of which is tabulated below.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION CEREMONIES

*These prize-distribution ceremonies were conducted to give away prizes for puppet shows as well as sit-and-draw competitions.

Water Conservation

The WBPCB organised a workshop at the Auditorium of Paribesh Bhaban, Kolkata on 16.01.04 to create awareness on water conservation and rainwater harvesting, and also to disseminate information on the low cost technological solutions for West Bengal. The WBPCB have implemented two demonstration rainwater harvesting projects in collaboration with Action for Food Production (AFPRO), a Guwahati-based NGO. On field visits to these sites at Bidhannagar Municipal Complex-Poura Bhaban and Bidhannagar College, the 50-odd participants of the workshop were exposed to the different aspects of these projects..

Personal Hygiene & Public Health

Under this theme, in association with WWF-India, a workshop on sanitation was held on 11.01.2004 at Laulara RC Academy, Purulia where 120 students and teachers from the schools of the district of Purulia participated. In another awareness programme on sanitation held at Bijoynagar Adarsha Vidyamandir, Bali Island, Sunderban on 16.01.04, 700 students of the schools of Sunderbans took active participation.

Rural Environment

This programme was aimed towards creating an eco-friendly village with the application of sustainable technologies such as, vermi-composting, medicinal plant garden, birds’ nests and construction of folk art hut. Growing medicinal plant gardens and preparation of carry bags made of biodegradable materials (like newspaper) are some of the other key features of this village. One such eco-friendly village scheme has been completed at Pearson Palli Tribal Village, Santeniketan. The eco-friendly village scheme was inaugurated on 24.08.03 and completed construction on 16.11.03.