50 writers take up ‘save environment’ challenge with gusto

Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 19

With conservation of environment emerging as a major challenge, particularly in the hill state of Himachal, which is prone to landslides due to its fragile ecology, 50 writers have joined an awareness campaign to prevent further degradation of the environment.

The prominent writers will undertake “Paryavaran Yatra (an environment tour)” on the 114-year-old Shimla-Kalka narrow gauge railway track, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on July 21 to create awareness on environment.

“During the ‘Paryavaran Yatra’ being organised under the banner of Himalaya Sanskritik and Paryavaran Manch, a group of 50 writers will gather at the Taradevi railway station and walk along the railway track till the Summer Hill railway station,” president of the manch HR Harnot said.

The trekkers would clean the track, plant saplings on vacant land and halt at the Jutog railway station. A poetic symposium will be held at the Summer Hill station, where writers will highlight and deliberate on environmental issues.

“It is like adding a drop to the ocean, but it is the first-of-its-kind initiative in which intellectuals of three generations, along with school/college students and general public are participating to make the people aware of environment and pollution-related issues,” Harnot added. The poets and writers participating in the campaign include Sudarshan Vashisth, Gupteshwar Nath Upadhyaya, Badri Singh Bhatia, Kul Rajiv Pant, Prof Meenakshi F Paul, Dr Anurag Vijayvargeey, Anuradha Kashyap, Dr Anita Sharma, Rajiv Rai and HR Harnot.