if only trees could bleed...there would have been rivers of blood in place of highways

Zirakpur –Bathinda tree cover a death knell for 96 thousand trees
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 14
http://epaper.tribuneindia.com/c/317852

If trees could bleed, a gushing river of blood would form soon in the place of Zirakpur-Bathinda highway. The rs 2500 cr four-laning project of this 200 km highway that aims at fast flow of traffic to Chandigarh and minimising road accidents would come up at the cost of nearly 96,000 trees.

These trees , including several mature and others just 10 -15 years old are all set to be sacrificed at the altar of development. But no one seems to be weeping. While immediate effect on the already depleting forest cover and the Environment in the state is anybody’s guess, the project also exposes the faulty planning of the government. Surprisingly, no champion of Environment has so far stood up to save the green cover.

Already over a lakh trees along the National Highway no 1 from Shambu to Jalandhar were removed making a severe dent on the Environment. No wonder, the state had a deficient rainfall, which depends on forest cover also.

Nearly half of the trees were planted a decade ago under the rs 450 crores Forestation project. The Indian Government took the money as loan from Japan with an aim and promise of improving the Environment. All that investment shall go down the drain.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had boasted a week ago about the massive project. He claimed the nearly four hours journey to Chandigarh would reduce to two-and-a-half hours when the four-laning would be completed.

The project is all set to begin soon with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests giving a clearance to the Zirakpur- Patiala stretch. The approval for the remaining stretch from Patiala to Bathinda seems to be a mere formality.

“The state Forest Department has recommended approval of the remaining stretch also,” said H S Gujral, Principal Conservator of Forests. He said the state government is committed to provided double the land acquired as well as plant double number of trees.

“Nearly 1000 acres of Forest Land would be utilised in the expansion of the road,” he said adding that the planning of such schemes is done by the government and the Forest Department has given recommendation only when the state government provided alternate land and money for plantations.

Chief Conservator of Forests Kuldip Kumar said nearly 96,000 trees would be removed, “the trees include Sheesham, Neem, Arjuna, Brahma Drek, Melia, Keekar and Eucalyptus.”

What the PWD says?

Engineering-in-Chief , PWD, R P Singh, which made the project plan said it was impossible to expand the road without removing the trees, “development comes at a cost, mostly of the Environment. We are giving land in the Kandi area along the Shivalik hills for planting double number of trees that would be affected by this road project.”

On faulty planning as the four-laning hits the Japan Afforestation Porject, R P Singh said the road project was conceived two years ago only, “ We have tried to minimise the loss of trees. We are not removing the complete forest cover. We are expanding the road from one side only at several places. Still, the trees would be lost but then how can we develop roads and infrastructure and save human lives and time.”

He said there was no alternate to cutting down the trees, “The state government had to acquire land for carving out a new road for which massive investment of time and money was required.”

COST TO ENVIRONMENT

Dr Suman Maur, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies claims that in one seasons, a single tree produces oxygen for year-round supply of oxygen to ten healthy persons.

“By that count, crores of persons would be affected in a way, “she said. Calling for better planning in future, she said the government should plan in advance the roads, or trains and then plant trees accordingly.

“Even now, if they are planning four-laning, they should earmark future expansion to six or eigt lane and plan vegetation accordingly.”

She said the cutting trees affects the environment in several ways. “ The trees are air purfiers. Some studies suggest they contain noise pollution also. They act as buffer zone for the environment. On road sides, they prevent polluting gases to affect the crops. Further, trees like Neem and Arjun have medicinal properties as well.”
EOM