Post 2023-07-13 10:36:23 |
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Recently some like-minded activists wanted to try a Miyawaki type forest and planned to plant 5000 trees. But where is space in urban areas? They could not locate the land and therefore approached the local authorities. After a lot of hesitation, they spotted some location and came forward to allot the land for plantation. The activists carried out a soil test for ascertaining suitability and finally they came to the MoU stage. The activists asked for a assurance that these trees will not be felled for any development purpose. When asked the school authorities who owned the land, they refused to give anything in writing. The project has gone to cold storage because there is no guarantee for felling the trees for development activities. The earth below me seemed to jolt as I read in social media that 2 lacs trees are going to be felled near Nagpur. Massive felling has become the order of the day. We need road, we need power projects, we need dams. We do not deny. But why this crazy felling of trees in pristine jungles. At this rate we are going to lose the natural resources which is the prime asset in India.
Felling a tree or two that comes in the way for a road or a building is understandable though not tolerable. And if under the tree preservation act of the respective states, if the local Govts order planting of 10 saplings in lieu of felling one tree, we can understand that some compensatory plantation is done in order to try some damage control. During Dwarka Expressway construction in Delhi, 1000s of trees were felled and was also told that they were transplanted. It is also an open secret that many of the transplanted trees stand as dead wood as the transplantation drive was just an eyewash. Even if we consider the rough estimate value of one full grown tree is about a Crore rupee, imagine the loss for felling 2 lac trees. Environmental clearances are becoming mockery of the system and proving to be just paper works.
To nurture a tree for 50 years just to make it fall a prey to the evil axe of the wood cutters is not acceptable. In Delhi, I remember that the amazing canopy of the narrow PUSA Road was completely wiped out by using chainsaws, overnight when Metro Rail corporation (DMRC) built the pillars. Tears dropped down when I saw huge trunks felled trees lying for months at Vande Madhram Marg, almost daily. Later on, DMRC learnt the art of felling huge trees and removing them without anyone’s notice overnight. In those days, I used to travel by scooter in PUSA road to my office in Old Rajinder Nagar. In fact, no one could even identify the spot where the trees stood. The magic of disappearing trees was a routine affair for me until the blue line Metro got constructed. The current metro users might not realize the pain that seniors like me might have experienced. Yes, today, the blue line carries millions but the environmental & emotional damage to a boulevard like PUSA cannot be measured.
Similarly, Bangalore, the once garden city is now slowly turning into a garbage city. We need to bring up roads and other infra structure projects. But let the policy makers apply their mind before acting. Let us not denude mother Earth, lest we will not be able to compensate the irreparable losses.
Dr V Selvarajan
Post 2023-07-13 10:36:23 |
Share: Facebook | | Twitter Whatsapp | Instagram Visits: 148
Recently some like-minded activists wanted to try a Miyawaki type forest and planned to plant 5000 trees. But where is space in urban areas? They could not locate the land and therefore approached the local authorities. After a lot of hesitation, they spotted some location and came forward to allot the land for plantation. The activists carried out a soil test for ascertaining suitability and finally they came to the MoU stage. The activists asked for a assurance that these trees will not be felled for any development purpose. When asked the school authorities who owned the land, they refused to give anything in writing. The project has gone to cold storage because there is no guarantee for felling the trees for development activities. The earth below me seemed to jolt as I read in social media that 2 lacs trees are going to be felled near Nagpur. Massive felling has become the order of the day. We need road, we need power projects, we need dams. We do not deny. But why this crazy felling of trees in pristine jungles. At this rate we are going to lose the natural resources which is the prime asset in India.
Felling a tree or two that comes in the way for a road or a building is understandable though not tolerable. And if under the tree preservation act of the respective states, if the local Govts order planting of 10 saplings in lieu of felling one tree, we can understand that some compensatory plantation is done in order to try some damage control. During Dwarka Expressway construction in Delhi, 1000s of trees were felled and was also told that they were transplanted. It is also an open secret that many of the transplanted trees stand as dead wood as the transplantation drive was just an eyewash. Even if we consider the rough estimate value of one full grown tree is about a Crore rupee, imagine the loss for felling 2 lac trees. Environmental clearances are becoming mockery of the system and proving to be just paper works.
To nurture a tree for 50 years just to make it fall a prey to the evil axe of the wood cutters is not acceptable. In Delhi, I remember that the amazing canopy of the narrow PUSA Road was completely wiped out by using chainsaws, overnight when Metro Rail corporation (DMRC) built the pillars. Tears dropped down when I saw huge trunks felled trees lying for months at Vande Madhram Marg, almost daily. Later on, DMRC learnt the art of felling huge trees and removing them without anyone’s notice overnight. In those days, I used to travel by scooter in PUSA road to my office in Old Rajinder Nagar. In fact, no one could even identify the spot where the trees stood. The magic of disappearing trees was a routine affair for me until the blue line Metro got constructed. The current metro users might not realize the pain that seniors like me might have experienced. Yes, today, the blue line carries millions but the environmental & emotional damage to a boulevard like PUSA cannot be measured.
Similarly, Bangalore, the once garden city is now slowly turning into a garbage city. We need to bring up roads and other infra structure projects. But let the policy makers apply their mind before acting. Let us not denude mother Earth, lest we will not be able to compensate the irreparable losses.
Dr V Selvarajan
Post 2023-07-13 10:36:23 |
Share: Facebook | | Twitter Whatsapp | Instagram Visits: 148
Recently some like-minded activists wanted to try a Miyawaki type forest and planned to plant 5000 trees. But where is space in urban areas? They could not locate the land and therefore approached the local authorities. After a lot of hesitation, they spotted some location and came forward to allot the land for plantation. The activists carried out a soil test for ascertaining suitability and finally they came to the MoU stage. The activists asked for a assurance that these trees will not be felled for any development purpose. When asked the school authorities who owned the land, they refused to give anything in writing. The project has gone to cold storage because there is no guarantee for felling the trees for development activities. The earth below me seemed to jolt as I read in social media that 2 lacs trees are going to be felled near Nagpur. Massive felling has become the order of the day. We need road, we need power projects, we need dams. We do not deny. But why this crazy felling of trees in pristine jungles. At this rate we are going to lose the natural resources which is the prime asset in India.
Felling a tree or two that comes in the way for a road or a building is understandable though not tolerable. And if under the tree preservation act of the respective states, if the local Govts order planting of 10 saplings in lieu of felling one tree, we can understand that some compensatory plantation is done in order to try some damage control. During Dwarka Expressway construction in Delhi, 1000s of trees were felled and was also told that they were transplanted. It is also an open secret that many of the transplanted trees stand as dead wood as the transplantation drive was just an eyewash. Even if we consider the rough estimate value of one full grown tree is about a Crore rupee, imagine the loss for felling 2 lac trees. Environmental clearances are becoming mockery of the system and proving to be just paper works.
To nurture a tree for 50 years just to make it fall a prey to the evil axe of the wood cutters is not acceptable. In Delhi, I remember that the amazing canopy of the narrow PUSA Road was completely wiped out by using chainsaws, overnight when Metro Rail corporation (DMRC) built the pillars. Tears dropped down when I saw huge trunks felled trees lying for months at Vande Madhram Marg, almost daily. Later on, DMRC learnt the art of felling huge trees and removing them without anyone’s notice overnight. In those days, I used to travel by scooter in PUSA road to my office in Old Rajinder Nagar. In fact, no one could even identify the spot where the trees stood. The magic of disappearing trees was a routine affair for me until the blue line Metro got constructed. The current metro users might not realize the pain that seniors like me might have experienced. Yes, today, the blue line carries millions but the environmental & emotional damage to a boulevard like PUSA cannot be measured.
Similarly, Bangalore, the once garden city is now slowly turning into a garbage city. We need to bring up roads and other infra structure projects. But let the policy makers apply their mind before acting. Let us not denude mother Earth, lest we will not be able to compensate the irreparable losses.
Dr V Selvarajan
NEWS
SOUTH EXPRESS