There is no doubt that when trees become a threat to human lives, they need to be pruned and those that need to be removed shall be cut down. But then, thousands of healthy trees with a good number of years left in their lifespan are being cut down across the state. This is following the government order that trees that cause risk to human lives need to be removed if complaints are received.
The rule has helped the timber mafia the most. All the trees that block vision are now being cut and their wood used in all things ranging from gigantic advertisement boards to home furniture.
Cutting trees that were planted by our previous generations with foresight is nothing but cruelty. The same government that keeps on stating that trees are the answer to the global warming problem and has been encouraging students to plant saplings is now cutting them down across the state without any kind of discretion.
Widespread tree cutting started in the state after the Public Works Department (PWD) released a circular on June 27. The circular, undersigned by the PWD secretary, had warned that action will be taken against officers who fail to comply with it. This has created fear in the minds of department’s employees. Hence, whenever they receive a complaint about a tree that is potentially dangerous to property and life, they straightaway bring it down without any second thought for fear of job loss. The result is that a mere complaint by someone would ring in the death knell for a tree.
There is a committee in the state comprising representatives from the PWD, Forest Department, self-help groups and environmentalists to decide on the course of action to be taken in cases of trees that are dangerous to life and property. When addressing a complaint, the committee should try its best to save the tree. For example, only the branches of the tree can be trimmed to reduce its weight. When other measures fall short of the desired result and there is no other option left, then the tree shall be cut.
Typically, the tree will have to be necessarily removed only in case of around 5 to10 per cent of the complaints received. The trees that get chopped are then auctioned by the PWD based on the floor price arrived at by the Forest Department. The sale proceeds go to the government coffers.
As a member of the examination team of the Tree Committee, I can vouch for the efficiency and transparency of the committee’s operations. Trees that the examination committee has judged harmless to life or property have not been cut and these trees have not caused any accidents as well.
Even when such a responsible committee is functional, heads of different government departments have been bypassing the committee and ordering trees to be cut. Since the committee has lost its relevance and failed in its purpose, I have decided to resign from it.
In 90 per cent of the cases, such complaints can be solved simply by chopping off only the branches of the tree since a reduction of load on its trunk and roots makes it stable and safe. Then again for the timber mafia, it does not make any sense to spend labour and time for a few branches. Their eyes are set on massive tree trunks that can earn them a windfall.
For the same reason, trees that have been marked by the existing committee and put up on auction for branch chopping are yet to find any takers. They still remain there, posing danger to human life and property.
Like we have funds to protect the trees in forests, we need to set aside one for those on our roadsides too. Such a fund can be used to get the branches of the trees chopped off and sorted according to their thickness. Auctioning the branches that are cut and sorted will be more than enough to recover the amount spent on cutting them. Further, the existing committee needs to be expanded to include more environmentalists.
The ongoing series of mass murders of trees in our state tells us one more thing. Our representatives in the government and officers holding top posts in forests and related departments should have the knowledge and more importantly have the mindset also to appreciate the fact that trees are one of nature’s biggest boons to all living beings on this planet.
(The author is a renowned environmentalist and recipient of Vriksha Mitra award)