ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME

November 26, 2021

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ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME
In 2018, I had done a tree plantation involving the locals with an idea of social sculpture. I frequently came to this place and joined the elderlies singing devotional songs beneath a tree. I listened to their conversation that ranged from spiritual, and philosophical to everyday humdrum. One day I expressed my wish to plant trees in a vacant plot for today’s and future inhabitants. I coordinated with the local authorities and did tree plantation. The idea was to synchronize the newly planted trees with the existing tree in a landscape that would grow as a community park.
To humanize open space, I asked people to send their poetry, and messages to their loved or lost ones. The tree guards included environmental messages, poems, and dedications to the loved ones – in lieu of where one might commonly find the advertising plaque of corporates. It was both community design process, conservation, and advocacy within the context of art
As a part of their daily rituals, the elderlies began nurturing the new trees.
This tree plantation was a call for long-term thinking backed by ecosophy and action research. Landscape architecture requires a synthesis of knowledge from the natural sciences, social sciences, ecopsychology, and many more. The key principle of place-making is ignored by decision-makers and those involved that fail to make informed choices.
Now there are concrete pillars instead of the trees that we planted 4 years ago. The growing trees were uprooted to keep the gates and control public space. They needlessly increased the steps on a traditionally raised platform making it hard for elderlies to climb up. A big tree that gives shade is now under stress due to the disproportionate hardscape. You can no more lie down on the grass. This tree is commonly known as “Khari’ Scientific name (Celtis Celtis australis) “and holds great significance in the local folklore. Covering this zone with concrete harms not only the tree itself but also the ecosystem that it supports. The soundscape ecology, interspecies communication, and their habitats are destroyed. There is no moral reasoning and ethical standing.
While I was photographing a stand-alone alone tree, I met an elderly man and we reminisced those fortunate hours under the tree that are getting rarer in today’s society. I recorded his sorrow-filled voice and discontent towards the destruction. Their beloved place isn’t theirs anymore. The importance of nature play in the lives of children is jeopardized. The hideous structures and excessive hardscapes and senseless planning have altered the natural and social landscape.
My idea of a nature-based park was excluded in favor of expensive contracts. This negligence comes at a significant cost to taxpayers. Non-financial costs include the loss of intangible heritage, biodiversity, and social prosperity. Public projects are franticly associated with corruption to the extent of environmental destruction. The inflated amount of 7 plus crore spent on this so-called park project is nothing but organized corruption.
Seeing the destruction first-hand makes me more determined. I am furthering a case study. Specific legislation and monitoring mechanism to investigate environmental criminality are feeble. And there is no urgent community response to the devastating loss. What should be our roles responsibilities and priorities? How can we cultivate empathic action for society to progress both materially and spiritually?

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