Eco warrior

Leo Saldanha, co-ordinator, Environment Support Group, which is part of the Hasiru-Usiru campaign, explains why the Namma Metro project angers him

It's been a busy month for volunteers of Hasiru-Usiru, a network of individuals aimed at conserving parks and open spaces in the city. They have been organising protests against the Metro Rail project.u00a0u00a0

Leo Saldanha, co-ordinator, Environment Support Group, which is part of the Hasiru-Usiru campaign, says, "It is shocking that in the name of development, the state government is taking away land from Lalbagh, but also from Lakshman Rao Park, a heritage park in Bangalore South. Trees are being felled for the construction of a mall, for electric substations and for parking lots. Isn't it tragic?"

Livid that the city is losing its last stretch of trees on RV Road, he says, "The loss inflicted on Lalbagh cannot be measured in any statistical manner right now. When there is so much talk on global warming and when scientists are urging people to plant trees, here is a government that has allowed the hacking down of tree cover."

The eco-warrior describes his growing-up years in a working class neighbourhood in Chamrajpet. "I loved every bit of my exciting life there given the social and economic diversities. It was also a great learning experience for me, especially to appreciate people's aspirations and anguishes. My parents always made sure that we spent our summer holidays with our grandparents in Coorg. I learnt about nature from my grandfather who practiced organic farming and taught me the pitfalls of using chemical fertilizers. From there on, it was simply been a wonderful learn curve of experiences and interactions with people, especially in rural and urban poor communities.

Back to Namma Metro and the protests. If roads aren't to be widened and trees felled to make way for the project, then what is the way out? "The question is really about fixing an alignment based on democratic decision-making. It is possible to take Metro underground, but the cost may be one or two times more than an elevated track. The point of the current demand for change in alignment is to protect irreplaceable heritage and parks. Once they are lost, they are gone forever," he argues.

"The Government of Karnataka did not introduce the amendment to the Karnataka Parks Act in a democratic manner. The amendment gave them the power to reclaim tracts of land for development. Such an issue should be first debated in the public. But public opinion was not invited," he says.

Talking about the challenges in this job, he says, "Every day I come with a plan and end up doing something else. I am not complaining, but I wish that there was a greater certainty about my day. When people come to me for help it is difficult to say I am busy. That they benefit from our little support and action gives me great satisfaction and encourages me to do more."

What keeps him going is the deep conviction and commitment he has to his cause. To young Bangaloreans, he says, "Get out and be involved. Stop pontificating. Hold every agency and decision-maker accountable. Make sure you do not adopt terrible living practices like America. There are good practices from all over the world; we could simply be open to learning such."

Shelf life
Leo Saldahna's list of recommended reading:
Green Political Thought by Andrew Dobson
We Fight for Oil by Ludwell Denny
Snow by Orhan Pamuk
The Citadel by AJ Croninu00a0
The Little Prince by Antoinne de Saint Expuryu00a0