Illegally tree felling
Every school child learns how trees get their nutrients from the soil and send it to the leaves through the bark in order to make their food. This harmless knowledge is being put to harmful use in Jaldhaka and Dimla upazilas. Thieves, in order to cut down the trees, are first cutting off the barks, which causes the trees to die prematurely. And since felling dead trees is not a serious offence, these criminals are getting away with mass deforestation scot free.
In a country, where lack of forests is a big concern, the trees in question were planted by the forest department on the embankments of the Teesta irrigation canal. Beneficiaries were given the task of maintenance. The project was undertaken jointly by the Water Development Board and the forest department. All in all, a laudable initiative that saw 50 thousand trees planted and grow to maturity. But all the good work is being undone due to the novel practice of felling trees coupled with the shortage of manpower to stop the practice.
In a report on our paper yesterday, the forester of Jaldhaka forest office and the executive engineer of WDB both complained that despite cases filed and appeals to union parishad leaders, there has been no result.
We do not want to see the forestation initiative's good be undone due to shortage of manpower and negligence. We urge the concerned authorities to take preventive action sp these criminals cannot cut off the barks. Suitable steps to take felling of barked trees might also be necessary to stop these criminals.
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