Green crusader urges netas to conserve state's ecology

GUWAHAATI: Padma Shri recipient Jadav Payeng, popularly known as the Forest Man of India, lashed out at politicians on Thursday for their 'lackadaisical' approach towards preservation of the state's ecology and urged people to take collective responsibility to save Assam's fragile environment.

"The people here should exercise their right to vote carefully so that a suitable leader, who will push for conservation of the state's ecology, is elected," Payeng said. He reminded politicians that if the issue was not addressed immediately, there wouldn't be an inch of land left, let alone room for politics. He suggested a change in the education system to address issues concerning the environment.

Payeng was in the city to spread awareness about Earth Hour, an annual global drive in which non-essential lights are switched off for one hour on a select day in March. This year, Earth Hour will be observed on Saturday.


"Politicians don't understand the importance of ecological conservation. We have to think about a balanced and sustainable existence," said Payeng, who is the state's brand ambassador for Earth Hour 2016.

Known as the man who single-handedly transformed a barren sandbar into a forest over the course of 30 years, Payeng urged people to think about ecological conservation in the same way as they thought about preserving culture. "I am worried about the socio-economic situation of Assam. We are losing our natural resources. People must elect leaders who will address the issue," said the renowned environmentalist.

Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, senior programme officer of World Wide Fund for Nature-India, which organizes Earth Hour in the country, echoed Payeng and said conservation of Assam's ecology was the collective responsibility of its people. "We need to spread the message of sustainability in a broader way," she added.