FAZILKA: Another reason to celebrate for this India's smallest big town Fazilka in Punjab. Fazilka has been selected first amongst all Asian cities for adopting best energy saving practices to fight against global warming in transportation.

World Carfree Network Community (www.worldcarfree.net) in their 32nd Issue of their magazine "Carbuster" (http://www.carbusters.org ) focusing on theme Faith and Environment, highlighted Fazilka as for setting up best examples to reduce the effect of   Global Warming Using Religion.

World Carfree Network brings together organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting alternatives to car dependence and automobile-based planning at the international level and working to reduce the human impact on the natural environment while improving the quality of life for all. It is a nonprofit organization registered and based in the Czech Republic. It coordinates the European activities of the network and runs the network's International Coordination Centre 

The same campaign was started by Patron of Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF), Dr Bhupinder Singh, Retired Professor and Urja Purash of Uttrakhand, this year on 22 nd April, on the occasion of Earth Day by organising Cycle Rally for Senior Citizen followed by installing hoardings of holy message from Shri Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Nanak Dev Ji on "Dharti Tapan" (Global Warming) in Fazilka. 

Other Achievements to fight against Global Warming by the Citizen of Fazilka;

1.This year Fazilka's annual Art, food and Cultural festival "Fazilka Heritage Festival-2007" was celebrated on theme "Global Warming". This was initiated to be the most eco friendly festival; use of plastic in terms of carry bag shall be banned during and after the festival. At present Fazilka generates 17.5 tons of solid waste everyday. Special discounts were given by Surya Electrical during Fazilka heritage festival for the promotion of use of CFL instead of conventional electric bulbs.

2.Fazilka is considered as safest town in India and World as well. No pedestrian and cyclist road crash death has been reported within the city zone. It is primarily because of 160 year old narrow residential street design by east India Company. Presently European countries are adopting the same to reduce their road fatalities and air pollution due to four and other motorized traffic. Last year, pedestrianisation in Fazilka through their Annual Art, food and cultural festival was also appreciated by Transport Department, University of Vienna, Austria.

3.On the occasion of Fazilka heritage festival-2007 cycle rally in association with Indian Army, to promote the message of "Global Warming", highlighting slogan "Ganga Maiyaa Hum Tere Apradhi, Prayshchit Karenge Cycle Chala Kar, Ped Laga Kar". This slogan has been chosen due to alarming situation arises to do shrinking of sunderban delta every year. River Ganges, feeding 10% of the world's population.

4.Indian Army planted more than 9,000 tree samplings in and around Fazilka Area to improve the green belt of Fazilka in association with Mr Prem Bubber, leading agriculturist from the region.

5.One Acre of Waste land jointly adopted by Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka and M/s Zamindara Farmsolutions to develop as Fazilka Green Belt.

6.500 tree samplings planted in maintained by the progressive farmer of the region Mr Surinder Ahuja

7.This year more than 3000 "Tahli" samplings were gifted and planted by progressive farmer of Fazilka Mr Narpinder Jhinja.

8.1000 tree samplings planted and maintained by Mr Sandeep Gilhotra along freedom fighter road in last 5 years.

9.Special request by worth Sub-divisional Magistrate of Fazilka Mr Rajiv Prashar to the schools of Fazilka for banning school children coming on their own motor vehicles to schools below 18 year of age. 

Environmental sufferings of Fazilka due to politically negligence in last 60 years;

People of Fazilka lost their Badha Lake and lake bed have been encroached by land mafia and sand mining from lake bed is illegally on, no action yet by any government body. The Fazilka city was founder by British Mr Pat Van Agnew in 1844 on the bank of this horse shoe lake due to its flora and fauna. Now because of drying up of Badha Lake, In an article by V K Joshi, former Director, Geological Survey of India (GSI) named Fazilka on fluoride red alert list.

 Recent studies have shown that the fluoride content in tube-well water in Fazilka is 6 to 12 mg per liter. Almost 70 per cent of Fazilka's population suffers from dental decay. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for fluoride content is 1-1.5 mg /l. This high content of fluoride further has been linked to aching joints, graying of hair, arthritis, and fluorosis both skeletal and dental has already taken over the disease list. The Fazilka Civil Hospital is treating an average of seven fluoride-poisoned people every day. After 60 years of Independence, Municipal Council of Fazilka is still pumping this highly sub-standard ground water to its residents for drinking.

Illegal construction in Forest area and Badha Lake peacock population has reduced to 2 only. No census has been conducted by Punjab Wildlife Department yet. This is how government body respects our national Birth.

Green belt has reduced to less than 1% but compensatory afforestration programme by government to maintain greenbelt required to regularize ecological cycle in the region. 

It is a high time for the people of Fazilka and region. People of this politically ignored town have decided to do something for themselves. Information obtained through Right of Information Act, 2005 (RTI) from Municipal Council Fazilka by this writer, Secretary GWAF, revealed that Municipal has planted samplings of just 732 trees in last five year. How many are survived, that no one knows?

In the last 10 year two forest minister of Punjab in both the governments were from this area only but surprisingly the green belt of Fazilka has reduced to less than 1%. It's high time and people of Fazilka have decided to save this planet. Indian Army is playing vital role to achieve and maintain the same. We are sure; this effort by the community will benefit the humankind and set new trends of community participation to change environment globally. This award by World Carfree Network community is first stepping stone and symbol of change for the betterment.