Mysuru: Karnataka high court judge Justice SG Pandit on Saturday highlighted the importance of environment and called upon the authorities concerned to create awareness among children. He was speaking after inaugurating the One Lakh Saplings Plantation Drive – One Tree, Hundred Breaths at the College of Horticulture at Yalachahalli near Yelwala.The event was jointly organised by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority, department of justice, forest department, Mysuru Bar Association and the College of Horticulture, Mysuru.He said such efforts should not be limited to Environment Day events or sapling-planting drives, but must reach every school and instil awareness in students.Justice Pandit said humanity has forgotten its fundamental duties and now needs a designated day to remember everything. “We remember the environment only on the day of observance and forget it the very next day. Human selfishness is the reason for environmental imbalance and severe heat waves. We are now directly experiencing the consequences of cutting down trees for personal gain,” he said.He added that while all speak about fundamental rights, everyone must introspect whether we are fulfilling our duties with equal responsibility. “Constitution clearly states that protecting the environment and afforesting is the fundamental duty of every citizen. We must answer for ourselves whether we are sincerely following this duty,” he said.Vishnuvardhana, VC, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, said climate change and global warming are disrupting nature’s balance, putting agriculture and horticulture at risk.Citing a CPCRI report, he said even a 1°C rise in temperature caused a 20% drop in coconut yield. Mango trees, which should flower in Dec-Jan, are now flowering in June-July, hitting farmers’ income, he added.District and sessions judge and DLSA chairperson Usharani, DCF Paramesh K, Bar Association president S Lokesh, Heartfulness Institute regional facilitator K Madhusudan and College of Horticulture dean Chandrashekhar Hanchinamani were present.
