Environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, one of the pioneers of the Chipko Movement, was in the city today.

Anwesha Ambaly of The Telegraph spoke to the 83-year-old Gandhi Peace Prize winner about various environmental issues

How have you seen the Chipko Movement evolve over the years? 

The movement has helped in creating awareness at national and the international levels. But, at times, it is celebrated as a festival and after that people forget about it. So, there is a need to make rural people understand the importance and the vision underlining the movement so that they relate to it and work for their own benefit in a localised manner.

How important is it to address global warming?

We have been exploiting the nature for our well-being and purposes such as tourism. But, it is important to realise that we have to save natural resources for our future generations as well. One has to think about the immediate surroundings and how it affects you and things around you. When these issues get sorted, global warming will automatically be controlled.

What is your opinion on the need for expanding green cover to counter climate change? 

The extreme heat conditions we are experiencing at present can only be countered by planting more trees. Kalahandi district in Odisha figured among the hottest areas of the country during summer so vigorous attempts to extend the green cover would recharge the groundwater and counter the effect of rising heat.

You had visited Odisha during the 1999 super cyclone, what are the environmental changes you see now?

The mangrove cover that acted as a buffer against cyclones need to be protected. I took the Puri-Konark road yesterday and found that a number of trees on either sides of the road have come up and it was a good feeling. I am glad that the area under mangrove vegetation in the Odisha coast, which was 193 sqkm in 1999, has increased to 231 sqkm, according to the latest forest survey report.

What is your area of concern now?

I am working to derive strategies to counter water scarcity as ten years down the line it will turn into a major problem in our lives. I am trying to involve more youngsters and make each one of them a leader who can work in the field of water conservation.

Over the years, we have been polluting the water bodies during immersion of idols. What is your opinion on that?

It should be taught from childhood to every person that rivers are our mother and we should not make it dirty. We need to make younger generations realise that. Culture and traditions are fine but not at the sake of harming the environment.

Which ideals of Gandhi do you think should be propagated the most considering the recent times?

There is a dire need for transparent people. We need to advocate equality and equitability.