Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Expert suggests measures to save city from environmental disaster

VISAKHAPATNAM: Prof. E.U.B. Reddi from the Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University has mooted cultivating organic vegetables, greens and fruits by promoting kitchen gardens/ roof top gardens/ balcony/ window gardens to overcome the threat posed by climate change.

When contacted by The Hindu, he recommended several initiatives by the agencies concerned and the people of the city to fight against environmental degradation.

He wants the parking lots and roofs covered with high albedo paints/materials. Conversion of agricultural land should be allowed if there is an immediate genuine housing demand. Keeping potential fertile crop land vacant should be treated as crime against the humanity, he remarks.

Prof. Reddi advocates banning of plastic usage especially black and other dark coloured ones which absorb more radiation because of low albedo. Energy and water audits must be made mandatory for everybody.

“Tax the run off created. Reward the rain water harvesting practices. Protect wood lands wastelands and wetlands to augment water supplies to the city,” he suggests and recommends metering of groundwater to enforce water conservation in apartments.

He suggests declaring no automobile usage incentive in place of fuel incentives.

He also wants keeping bicycle lots in the important centers of the city for free roaming.

The expert wants policy-makers to think of clean green and dependable mass transport. His wish list includes: Do not collect any fees from the people who climb Kilasagiri hill using steps. Encourage such trekkers by giving them a glass full of lemon juice or buttermilk. Here people who come by individual automobile transport to the Kilasagiri hill should be taxed heavily.

Remedial measures suggested by him include white colour should be made mandatory for buildings including roof tops (lot of radiation can be reflected back into space by the white reflective surface), enforce the technologies to reduce dark/black /soot particles entering into the city atmosphere, enforcing green architecture, green buildings and green city culture.

‘Ban old vehicles'

Mooting phasing out of old vehicles, he says dirty, aged and outdated vehicles should be thrown away mercilessly. Authorities should discourage individual transport and encourage energy efficient and green mass transport. Telecommuting practices should be promoted.

Other recommendations by him include promoting clean green fuels, insist immediate usage of solar powered LED lights in houses and offices, develop civic sense and see that no solids are released into the drains.

This will automatically make the city free of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases.

Making environmental education (diploma or degree/some training) compulsory to the current policy makers/urban planners, insist environmental programmes on TV channels and a weekly special edition or column on Vizag city environment, natural colour of our coast and sea waters should not be altered by releasing or throwing solid, liquid and gaseous coloured/dirty pollutants and proper SWM practices are insisted in the city as well as in the dump sites.

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