The oldest living city in the world, a pilgrimage for both sinners and saints, holy waters of the river Ganga - this is Varanasi. But streets full of garbage, a river that looks black and clouds of gases released by vehicles - all this is Varanasi too.

This ancient city is steeped in history and culture. This is truly the “Kashi” that so many saints have talked about. The waters of this sacred river wash the feet of the city, Banaras. It was the British who renamed it as Varanasi, after the rivers Varuna and Assi which flow here. Gautam Buddha preached his first sermon here at Saranath, where a museum has been built as well. This city has a rich culture and heritage to offer its inhabitants... what they have got, they waste it away, not realising its value.

The waters of this river, which is considered so holy, are nothing but sewage now - and untreated sewage at that. The black river we see while boating is the evidence. Dead carcasses floating have become a sight that is too common. And it is in these stinking waters that hundreds of our people bathe and wash and drink. It is here that thousands of tourists come - unaware of what we the inhabitants have been doing to this river.

There remain no sidewalks at places, for the streets are full of garbage on either hand. The smell issuing from this waste makes passers-by cover their noses and mouths. Hundreds of small children are engaged each day in picking up garbage and rubbish and rags - only to dump it down a little way away. What kind of a life is this for innocent kids and tens of dozens of families? This garbage is unsegregated garbage - so even stuff like vegetable peels cannot degrade because of the plastic. This garbage accounts for unsanitation, disease and an unhealthy environment.

Air pollution is yet another thing. With the advent of development and technology, the world is crazy over fast cars, new cars, special cars - and Varanasi is no exception. Vehicles are the trend - the fashion of the age. They are not merely for transport, they have become a symbol of prestige. And the pollutant and toxic gases emmitted by the vehicles cause breathing and respiratory problems, cardiac disorders. Vehicles, being a major source of noise are also responsible for noise pollution.

The destruction of trees on a reckless scale causes no end of troubles to the ecological balance. If only men began worshipping trees instead of idoes, this world would be a better world. Even the bird population in Varanasi has dwindled - it is no longer what it was five years ago. All this affects the ecological balance  and like it or not, man has to accept the fact that he is a part of it. Whatevfer affects the environment affects man as well.
           Help save the Earth! Help Save Varanasi!