Eco volunteers paint the town green

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 26

Kichlew Chowk has been at the forefront of an eco-conservation and beautification project undertaken by a conglomeration of NGOs active in the city. The aim is to make an example out of one of the busiest routes in the city, creating a graphic or two about green belts and changing aesthetics of the holy city.

Volunteers of the Dilbir Foundation (DF) braved fog and freezing temperature to set up a small model under its AFAT (Artists for Amritsar’s Transformation) project at Kichlew Chowk by creating a work of art, with eco-conservation on the sidelines. Artist George Emanuals's graffiti on green belts was just the beginning as more artists and volunteers joined in, braving the freezing temperatures to create a colourful message board with art. This was combined with a 'greenification' drive sponsored by ThrivEarth, an environmentally friendly products and technologies organisation, which created EcoBin as a garbage-disposal solution for households.

Extending the work on Kichlew Chowk towards the court road overbridge, a group of artists from the GNDU, led by a team of The Ugly Indian (TUI) volunteers, Madhubani artists and World Wildlife Fund's Puneet Watts in collaboration with Aryan Honda, who as a responsible corporate in sponsoring main elements, the beautification and maintenance project of the flyover has become a mass movement. It has got complete support from the Muncipal Corporation. The model has enthused many corporates to adopt areas in their periphery and develop them aesthetically.

Gunbir Singh, president, DF, said, “There is nothing more satisfying than an ever-growing exuberance among volunteers to take on more endeavours. In our efforts, we are joined by artists, students and citizens to assist in the city's 'greenification' and beautification programmes. The volunteers start early in the day, turning one of the busiest routes in city into a social and cultural hub. "We believe that instead of just raising issues, it is imperative to find workable solutions. One is also happy to have established a collaboration between the WWF and EcoAmritsar for our activities. All in all, we are in for programmes, which enrich the city. Our support, for all those who want to help the city, is always available.”

While this is still a work in progress, the project will be completed by March 2015. Two more sites at Sharifpura and Saragarhi have been allotted for beautification by the MC and more local communities will be involved along with some overseas volunteers.

Painting the stretch of flyover right above the main crossing, Goerge Emanual, who was the first to initiate the project under EcoAmritsar, believes, “It’s not just a form of self-expression, but also a form of spreading a message. The effects were felt immediately as I managed to grab attention and a few curious glances by the masses. It’s important to understand that preaching might not always give the desired results.” He emphasises on the silent form of expression. “Art has a silent message."