The Pioneer 10.12.2010
RMC slammed for felling treesPNS | Ranchi
Can the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), which reportedly passed orders for felling trees at Harmu Road in the wake of preparation for the President’s visit, be forgiven for its ruthless act? The act unquestionably brought forth the approach of the RMC officials. It shows how concerned they are about the environment!
Highly placed sources said that senior RMC officials incurred wrath of top bureaucrats who held the RMC responsible for passing the order for felling the green trees, which were no way threat to the VVIP visiting the city. Nonetheless, the trees met untimely death for gross negligence on part of the municipal body that reportedly gave the go-ahead for their cutting.
From common man to social activists, everyone wants action against the person responsible for the act. Angry citizens unanimously condemned the act that created a desert-like scene at Harmu Road, devastating lush green scenic beauty which is a thing of past now.
“Even common man knows that cutting trees is an offence. How come the RMC committed such a blunder? It cannot be forgiven for the act. Action should be ensured against the officials whose negligence has caused severe damage to the already polluted environment,” said SK Gope.
“Can it be vindicated how trees might be a threat to security? A huge fund is being spent over the security arrangements of the VVIP. Cutting of trees was completely an unnecessary move in the name of security. Deployment of some more security personnel at the dense foliage spots could have saved the trees. Perhaps, the decision was taken in a hurry without mulling pros and cons of the act,” added Gope.
Environmentalist Nitin Priyadarshi said, “Most of the old trees were cut down on the route in the city the President has to pass through. Local administration feels that these trees are threat to the President. Trees no way are security threat to anyone, leave alone VVIP who always move with a band of high security. Trees are lifeline of human being. Such steps make us aware of the lackadaisical approach of the officers.”
“Astonishingly most of the top authorities and ministers are unaware of the cutting down of the trees. So this is the way we are protecting our environment. Perhaps, the officers forgot the fact that he is human being first and an officer later while passing the orders,” lamented Priyadarshi.
“Cutting trees is a heinous act. It damages environment. But who cares. I think strict action should be ensured against the officer to teach him a lesson for future. No one has a right to hurt the nature,” said Stan Swami of PUCL.
Binju, Integrator of NGO Pradaan, said, “A sapling takes several years to grow as a tree, while felling of a tree takes hardly 10 to 15 minutes. The way trees were felled here cannot be justified. The officials took callous steps in the name of security. If it is so, in Delhi, there should be no trees as it is a hub of VVIP movement. All the trees cut were of 6-10 years old. Some of them were old trees. Has the administration any plan ready to compensate the loss?”
“Action against the officials responsible for the move is the only way out to send a strict message among the Babus so that such carelessness does not recur,” suggested Binju.
It is worth mentioning here that City Mayor Rama Khalko on Wednesday virtually denied involvement of the municipal body in the matter. Chief Executive Officer RMC Deepankar Panda, however, denied comment over the matter.
