COP 11: Are we ready?

As a nation, we have a habit of waking up at the eleventh hour to anything of significance. This is true, both at the micro  and macro  levels.

Take the example of the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games or any other major event.  We are the host nation for the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from 1 to 19 October 2012. India has hosted a meeting of a Conference of the Parties to a multilateral environmental agreement since 2002, and the fact this will be the first meeting to evaluate the implementation of the Nagoya biodiversity compact, gives us some idea about its significance.

Hyderabad will be playing host to a major event that will bring delegates from all over the world--representatives of civil society, scientists, stakeholders from the business community, UN agencies and their donors among others. The big question that comes to everyone's mind is, are we ready? It is all very well to say that Hyderabad has the privilege of hosting this event of global importance which will attract wide international attention. But a cursory look at things around us tells us that we too are trapped in the eleventh hour syndrome. The same Hyderabadi laid-back approach seems drive an event of this magnitude because there are no signs on the ground of any proactive work by government agencies.

Our roads continue to be the same, if anything some have got worse and traffic snarls are a matter of concern with metro rail work slowing vehicular movement in most parts of the twin cities. Our pothole-ridden roads wear the same look even in areas close to the venue. One would have thought there would be some coordination when it comes to laying cables and pipes by two separate agencies such as the Transco and HMWSSB, but that rarely ever happens.

The CPDCL has on its part assured of uninterrupted power supply and that it would keep the main feeders that supply power to the venue free and make necessary load adjustments. Let us keep our fingers crossed on this commitment from them.

Of course, the GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu has assured the citizenry that the city's main roads would be spruced up for the occasion and that drains would be attended to. Signs across the city would sport a fresh look according to him and the assurance that will please citizens is that the work done will be lasting in nature and a cosmetic exercise. He said that roads would be carpeted afresh and flyovers and signs painted. Sidewalks are likely to be tiled as well, in the time that we have.
Is this possible? If it is indeed an achievable goal why does it take a summit of this magnitude for some good civic work to be done? The GHMC Commissioner is no doubt aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but he heads a gargantuan set-up where nothing ever moves on schedule. Perhaps, we have still not understood the significance of the Hyderabad summit.
While presenting the logo in May 2011, the Minister of the Environment and Forests of India, Jairam Ramesh said that livelihoods and biodiversity should be at the focus of discussions at the summit, to be held under the slogan ―Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita (nature protects us if she is protected). To start with, has our city done anything to live up to this slogan? Apart from the preparations for COP 11, and the platitudes that will be mouthed by our worthies, we need to introspect on the indifference that has now become synonymous with our attitude to nature.
Let us take some lessons from COP 11 as the host city—better late than never!

observer@sakshipost