West Bengal's Rivers and Fertile Geography
West Bengal is crossed by the Ganges before it finally flows into the Bay of Bengal. As the river travels across the country, it carries fertile alluvial soil and deposits it in Bengal, making the land extremely fertile. In North Bengal, rivers such as the Teesta and Torsa enhance the beauty of the Himalayan foothills with their mesmerizing flow. Similarly, in South Bengal, rivers like the Damodar, Kansabati, the Ganges, and the Hooghly make the land fertile, prosperous, and rich in crops.
Why Pollution Is Increasing Despite Natural Wealth
However, despite having so many rivers and fertile soil, the level of environmental pollution is continuously increasing today. The major reasons behind this include human negligence, prioritizing economic growth over environmental protection, and the lack of time to look back at nature in the intense rat race of competitive life. Added to this is governmental indifference and the tendency to blindly imitate the concrete-centric development model of Western countries, which gradually destroys the uniqueness of our own environment and geography.
Rapid Growth of Vehicles and Urban Pollution
Today, the city of Kolkata is crowded with vehicles. These vehicles contribute to both air pollution and noise pollution. Owning a car is now often seen as a significant achievement or a symbol of social status, whether it is truly needed or not. This mentality is not limited to cities; even in suburban and rural areas, owning a motorbike is increasingly viewed as a symbol of success. As a result, the number of vehicles is rapidly increasing, and pollution is rising along with it.
Urban Expansion, Tree Cutting and Wetland Loss
On one hand, as the number of vehicles grows, two-lane roads are being expanded into four-lane roads to accommodate them. In the process, thousands of century-old trees are being cut down. On the other hand, even people who already have their own houses are increasingly choosing to live in high-rise apartments. To construct these buildings, ancient wetlands are being filled up and forests are being cleared. As a result, the natural ecological balance is gradually being destroyed.
Rivers and Canals Turning Into Drains
Due to the combined indifference of both the government and the general public, many ancient natural rivers and canals have now turned into drains. The most alarming aspect is that people have almost begun to accept this situation as normal. Rivers turning into drains have become a kind of "new normal" in our perception.
Lack of Long-Term Environmental Commitment
Despite having sufficient open spaces where trees could be planted, many of these areas remain empty simply due to the lack of genuine intention. During summer, people suddenly become very enthusiastic about planting trees, but once the season passes, that enthusiasm quickly fades away. In winter, people become busy with various festivals and celebrations, trying to momentarily forget the frustrations and struggles of daily life. During that time, concern for the environment rarely remains in anyone's mind.
Damage to Trees in Urban Areas
In Kolkata and its surrounding areas, there is an increasing trend of completely covering the base of trees with concrete. Often, people hammer nails into tree trunks to hang posters, banners, or decorative lights for personal publicity. In some cases, trees are even cut down simply because they block advertisements. Yet ordinary people rarely have the time or awareness to pay attention to these issues.
The Social Race and Environmental Neglect
Today, people are so busy in the race to prove their success and protect their personal interests that they seem to be running breathlessly. In this race, the sense of responsibility toward the environment is gradually disappearing.
Social Media Awareness vs Ground Reality
During summer, social media is filled with posts encouraging people to "plant trees and save lives." However, when it comes to actually stepping out onto the streets and doing the work, that enthusiasm is rarely visible. As a result, controlling environmental pollution becomes extremely difficult.
Waste Generation and Public Negligence
At the same time, the consumerist lifestyle of people is generating enormous amounts of waste. Roads, ghats, canals, and ponds are being filled with garbage. Even when the government takes initiatives to clean these places, they cannot remain clean for long because of the continued negligence and lack of awareness among the public.