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By:

Vishal Varma

4 June 2026 at 8:13:26 am

A Planet in Peril, a Generation on Call

Every year on June 5, the world observes World Environment Day—a global reminder that the future of humanity is inseparably linked with the future of nature. Yet this day should not remain limited to ceremonial tree plantations, public campaigns, or symbolic declarations. It must become an occasion for reflection, responsibility, and meaningful action. For decades, nature has sustained human civilization by providing clean air, water, fertile land, biodiversity, and climatic balance. In...

A Planet in Peril, a Generation on Call

Every year on June 5, the world observes World Environment Day—a global reminder that the future of humanity is inseparably linked with the future of nature. Yet this day should not remain limited to ceremonial tree plantations, public campaigns, or symbolic declarations. It must become an occasion for reflection, responsibility, and meaningful action. For decades, nature has sustained human civilization by providing clean air, water, fertile land, biodiversity, and climatic balance. In return, human activity has increasingly placed pressure on ecosystems through excessive consumption, uncontrolled development, and unsustainable lifestyles. Today, environmental protection is no longer a matter of choice or idealism; it has become a necessity for survival. The present environmental condition across the world presents a serious warning. Climate change, rising temperatures, water scarcity, air pollution, deforestation, and declining biodiversity are reshaping life as we know it. Weather events that once appeared exceptional are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. Heat waves, erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, and ecological disturbances are affecting both urban and rural communities. Cities continue to struggle with deteriorating air quality and mounting waste generation, while villages face shrinking water resources and changing agricultural patterns. The imbalance between development and environmental sustainability is no longer an abstract concern-it directly influences public health, food security, economic stability, and social well-being. The challenge before humanity is clear: progress cannot continue at the cost of the environment. Sustainable development must become the foundation of future growth. The Challenges Environmental degradation is not caused by a single factor. It is the result of multiple interconnected challenges. Rapid urbanisation, excessive dependence on plastic, depletion of groundwater, industrial pollution, large-scale deforestation, and irresponsible exploitation of natural resources continue to intensify ecological stress. Equally concerning is the lack of environmental awareness and the tendency to prioritise short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability. Policies and regulations alone cannot solve environmental problems unless they are supported by active public participation and responsible civic behaviour. The environment cannot be protected through annual campaigns alone-it requires continuous commitment and behavioural change. The Responsibility Protecting the environment is not solely the responsibility of governments, institutions, or international organisations. Every individual has a role to play. Small actions, when adopted collectively, create meaningful impact. Conserving water and electricity, reducing plastic consumption, segregating waste, adopting sustainable consumption habits, planting and nurturing trees, and using public transport are practical steps that contribute significantly to environmental preservation. Environmental responsibility must become part of everyday life-in homes, schools, colleges, workplaces, and communities. The objective is not to stop development but to ensure that development remains in harmony with nature. To protect nature is to protect our own future. Green Transformation Young people represent one of the most powerful forces for environmental change. Their energy, innovation, adaptability, and capacity for leadership make them central to building a sustainable society. Educational institutions can become important centres for environmental action by promoting environmental education, water conservation initiatives, cleanliness drives, plantation campaigns, and plastic-free practices. Beyond physical participation, young people possess another powerful tool-digital influence. Through responsible use of social media and community engagement, youth can spread awareness, inspire behavioural change, and mobilise collective action. Environmental movements gain strength when young citizens move from participation to leadership. The environmental challenges of tomorrow demand leaders who act today. World Environment Day should not remain a date on the calendar—it should become a turning point in our relationship with nature. The choices we make today will define the world inherited by future generations. Environmental protection is not an act of sacrifice; it is an investment in human survival and shared prosperity. Nature has given humanity more than we can repay. Yet the time has come to begin. Save the Environment. Secure the Future. The debt we owe to nature can only be repaid through action. (The writer is an assistant professor at Dayanand Commerce College based in Latur. Views personal.)

Unrest within Mahayuti

Updated: Jan 21, 2025

Mahayuti

Mumbai: The state administration on Sunday stalled the appointments of guardian ministers in Raigad and Nashik districts. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had cleared the appointments before he left for Davos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum on Saturday. They are believed to have been stalled on behest of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the state in absence of the Chief Minister.


NCP’s Aditi Tatkare and BJP’s Girish Mahajan were entrusted with responsibilities of guardian minister for the Raigad and Nashik districts respectively, where Shiv Sena’s Bharat Gogawale and Dada Bhuse had staked claims. Gogawale is a first-time minister while, Bhuse had been the guardian minister of the district during previous government under Eknath Shinde.


Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP all the three constituents of Mahayuti have strong roots in both the districts. However, the Shiv Sena and the NCP had been particularly on loggerheads there. The Shiv Sena, which had been demanding the guardian minister’s post in Nashik district has managed to win only two assembly seats in the district where the NCP has Six and the BJP has Five MLAs. On the contrary, in Raigad the NCP has won only one seat while the Shiv Sena and the BJP both have Three MLAs each in the district.


Sunil Tatkare, MP from Raigad Lok Sabha constituency and the stat unit president of the NCP and father of Aditi Tatkare, had been the guardian minister of Raigad between 2004 and 2014. Gogawale had always been his political opponent before Tatkare joined the Mahayuti government under Ajit Pawar’s leadership in 2023. Gogawale claimed that all the Six Shiv Sena-BJP MLAs in the district had opined in his favour to be the guardian minister of the district and after the decision to appoint Aditi Tatkare was announced, his supporters resorted to violent protests. They burnt tyres in bid to stall traffic on highway in the district. Reacting to the developments, Tatkare said that the issue should be pondered over after CM Fadnavis returns from Davos on Saturday and settled amicably.


In Nashik Girish Mahajan had been the guardian minister of the district between 2014 and 2019 when Fadnavis was the Chief Minister.


The post of guardian minister doesn’t have any constitutional mandate and is considered to be a political appointment. Guardian ministers head the district planning and development councils (DPDC) that control the funds for development works being carried out in the particular district. This control wields much of political power to the minister in that district whereby spreading the party in the district becomes much easier. This is the reason why the grass root politicians seem to be very sensitive to such appointments.


While Gogawale and Bhuse are unhappy about not being appointed as guardian ministers, some others like NCP’s Hasan Mushrif and BJP’s Pankaja Munde are unhappy about not being appointed as guardian district in their home districts of Kolhapur and Beed respectively. DCM Shinde is learnt to have gone to his ancestral village Dare in Satara district after the decision and BJP’s firefighters Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Girish Mahajan are expected to meet him there to try finding a way out of the issue.

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