Cotton town covers itself in green

At 71, Surinder Pal Kaushal’s obsession with ‘green’ isn’t waning. Daily he conspires with his family and friends to identify public places in town that can be turned green with plantations. “Being at the centre of the rainbow, green alone can bring all other colours to life,” he quips. From public institutions to government lands, open spaces and wastelands… all have been his target for the past three decades.

The retired engineer has not only succeeded in engineering partnerships with many social groups but also galvanised his family and relatives to join the act. No wonder the district town of Barnala in Punjab is humming with green activism. Each year on June 5, World Environment Day, hundreds from the city gather at the invitation of Kaushal and his family to celebrate and reinforce their commitment to keep their abode green.

In its fifth year, it is indeed a rare kind of celebration. Apart from a leading environmentalist invited to speak at the event, the gathering includes government officials, environment activists, social welfare groups and citizens. Read More….