Green Choices
The lesion of gray cloud stretched across the Chennai sky. Raghavan who was serving as the Chief Minister of Indian state of Tamil Nadu, came out of his room and stood on the veranda. “Can you see those gray clouds?” His wife stared at the sky with her mouth wide open. Raghavan looked at the sky. “Yeah, we may face a crisis,” he told her.
Raghavan’s guess was correct. It was a severe pollution meltdown. There was a tremendous amount of media coverage of the crisis. Raghavan grimaced when the main opposition parties used the crisis to squabble and play musical chairs in the Blame Game.
Raghavan called the Minister of Environment to his office after a while. “The green cover in Chennai needs improvement, sir,” the minister said. “Yeah, sure,” Raghavan said. The minister said, “It’s wasteful to see office spaces unutilized from 5pm to 9am, sir. So we’ll propagate indoor farming in office corridors.” “It’ll be the first urban farm in Chennai,” Raghavan said, stroking the moustache of his beard. “Is there any specific instruction, sir?” “Create an inventory of Tree species in the area,” said Raghavan. “The study may give an account of Tree diversity, health status, density, and distribution.”
The Minister of Transport entered a little later. “Road congestion and pollution are going up every day, sir,” the Transport Minister said. “Try to make public transport convenient and private cars difficult to afford,” Raghavan said. “Raise the car parking fees too.” “I’ve an idea, sir.” “Feel free to say what you like.” “Our officers have to encourage people to walk, cycle, and use e-scooters, sir,” the minister said. “What a brilliant idea!” exclaimed Raghavan. “We have to build a connector network that will connect every park in the city with a cycle track.”
The Minister of Water Resources entered the official chamber of Raghavan a little later in the day. “The waterways are polluted by hawkers, farms, and factories, sir.” “Implement a clean-up drive,” Raghavan advised.
Slowly a smile spread across Raghavan’s face as he looked forward to a secure future.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI like this story a lot, Dipayan. Some of the suggestions the Minister made are just brilliant. I especially like the urban farm in the office building! Why not? I also like the idea of making cars more and more expensive to drive and to park. People seem to respond best when their money is threatened. I do have one question. At the end, when the Minister looks forward to a secure… Read more »
Thank you very much Fuji for liking my story. I leave it to the readers to guess the meaning of the smile.
Wow. It is a brilliant story, Dipayan. I hope it will be implemented soon in different urban places. Nice job.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks for your comment, Lotchie. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
You’re welcome.
Wonderful Dipayan, loved it.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you so much, Sujoy.
Very well written.
Thank you!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWonderful…
Thanks a lot!
This is a great story, Dipayan, full of hope and very creative suggestions. You should send this to the real Minister in Tamil Nadu! I’d like to send it to some of our American Congress people. They seem to be very short of creative ideas. Thank you for a well-written, inspiring read.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you so much for your sugar-coated comments, Julie.
Beautiful story. Sleek storytelling style. Liked it a lot.
Thank you so much.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleExcellent story. Keep on writing.
Thanks a lot!
Insightful remedies suggested. Great to see that readers are straight away getting attracted towards them. That fulfills the purpose in a broad sense! Kudos!
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Excellent story.
Thank you!
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI like the story very much.
Oh, I’m so glad to know that!
Nice story, Dipayan, with a lot of great suggestions. It flows well and gets a lot of good points across. Good job.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you very much for your sugary comment.
Very well thought out suggestions. It’s the time to share such ideas to the parliamentary committee. Nice write up Dipayan.
Thanks a lot for your comment.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleNice story. I like it.
Thank you!
Bobby you are an incredible writer, and you have developed a lot of writing skills. Keep it up. This platter of yours, was of different taste. It touched my taste buds and rang the message you wish to convey through your post. Best of luck.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks a lot for the sugared comment.
It was good to read a story that provided some innovative solutions to climate change Dipayan, I really enjoyed it.
I’m glad to know that you’ve enjoyed reading my story.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleLoved the depiction and the way the story unfolds. Well done Dipayan.
Thank you very much for the comments.
I read this on the day after the British PM’s cabinet reshuffle. Your story makes me imagine a scenario where a leader really would choose the absolute best people for the lead jobs. That would be progress!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleLet’s hope for the best for England.
The campaign against climate change might turn into a smashing success only through the collective efforts of the politicians and their people.
Glad to know you enjoyed the story. Thank you for your support and encouragement.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleDipayan, I liked how the minister took each challenge as an opportunity for positive change, without hesitation. Fuji’s question about why he smiled is an interesting one. I automatically assumed it was because of the positive impact he will have on the climate, but then again, it was election time so he might have an ulterior motive. Nonetheless he had some great ideas to improve the environment. I liked the hope for… Read more »
Let’s hope for a better life that would lead humans into survival through controlling global heating. Thanks a lot!
Wonderfully written… ? ? A very encouraging appeal… ✊ Good work Dipayan…
Only if…. The real life Ministers had these senses. Hope they do… ? For the sake of our future generations… ?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you very much.
Wonderful
Thank you!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleImpressive writing
Thanks a lot!
Good one, I have just read it.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks for reading my story.
Brilliant, nice story, Dipayan, keep it up!!
Thank you very much.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThought-full one….
Thanks for the comment.
Nice story..
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Congratulations, Dipayan. Your story is so inspiring. I read recently about vertical gardens on the outside of skyscrapers in Singapore and other cities, so your minister can add that idea to his re-election list!
Thanks, Fuji. Congratulations on your win, too.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleCongratulations on your win, Dipayan. When I first read this story, I knew it would win. And this is it, you won. I am so happy for you. Congratulations again.
Thanks a lot for your sugary comments and good wishes.
You’re most welcome, Dipayan.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks a million, Chris. I’ll never forget your support and kindness.