Mysore/Mysuru: Noted Kannada film actor and environmentalist Suresh Heblikar has flagged concerns about extensive reliance on foreign technologies that pose a challenge to the conservation of environment.

He was sharing his views during a talk on ‘Prevention of Plastic Pollution’ organised by The Institution of Engineers India (IEI), Mysore Local Centre at its premises on JLB Road in the city recently.

“Ours is a diverse country with a mix of social, cultural and heritage features, very much unlike European countries and United States (US). However, we have been using their technologies, which have emerged as a challenge in taking up environmental conservation activities here,” remarked Heblikar.

In Karnataka, the emphasis should be on protecting the large swathes of forest area. The single crop culture is encouraged among farmers who cultivate paddy with river water, in those parts of the State replete with arid lands receiving less rainfall. As a result, 30 percent of soil fertility has eroded while in North Karnataka alone, there are 33 sugar factories, where sugarcane is cultivated on a large scale.

The conservation of environment is no more an intricate matter, as the rise in temperature level and changing weather patterns have been posing greater challenges, that can be well described as the biggest tragedies of the world, he said adding that nature has been fulfilling all our desires to live, as the economy, social progress, cultural heritage, language, cloth and food have their roots in environment.

The State once had 48,000 big lakes and 60 percent among them have vanished. Such a condition can be attributed to the wars that annihilate natural resources, with the explosives reducing the soil towards its peril. It requires million of years for the top soil to form, Heblikar opined.

Though science and technology has gifted mankind with several innovations, man existed even before technology was never heard of. One should think about such possibilities, as in the recent days, seas are being called as the source of oxygen and more researches should be conducted in this regard, he appealed.

Plastic has emerged as a bigger threat nowadays. Thousands of industrialists in Mumbai have been running plastic recycling units of 4,000 crore to 5,000 crore capacity. However, the plastic with thickness below 40-60 microns are considered   hazardous to health. Earlier, there was a practice of carrying bag to shops, but now it is vice-versa. Awareness should be held against using plastic carry bags, he said.

IEI, Mysore Local Centre Chairman  Dr. R. Deepu, former Chairman A.S. Satish,  Hon. Secretary Dr. S.A. Mohan Krishna and Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), Mysuru Chapter President K.B. Prabhakar were present.