Years of lethargy, repeated court directions and after lakhs of green stems going down to make way for highways and other infrastructure projects, the Forest and Environment Department is again looking to come back to task. The Department has gone on reviving its old idea to get tree translocation machine of its own to save at least some of the saplings.
The step is underway after the Department’s effort inviting expression of interest from the machine making companies about two years ago in 2016 failed to secure any.
“We could not get interested parties to supply us the tree transplantation machines even after extending the deadlines for several times. Now, the Department has gone on revisiting its terms and conditions and about to invite expression of interest for another time,” said a Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF).
The official has been inducted into a high powered committee formulated by the Department to look into felling of trees on mass level during road widening underway in Ranchi along different highways in the State; one such exercise is currently on at NH-75 between Bijupara and Kudu.
It is heart-wrenching to see thousands of green trees, some of even 10-12 years old and also older than 100 years, to falling prey to mighty earthmovers and excavators. “Equally sad is to see people and locals ganging up with axes and whatever in their hands to chop-off branches of the helpless and lifeless trees, swinging majestically just hours ago. The scene is not confined to any particular area but everywhere,” said noted environmentalist Nitish Priyadarshi.
Fate of the trees is so when the Jharkhand High Court had observed that “felling trees was a sin” while listening to a PIl and formulated a team of the people of different walks of life, including international level conservationist Bullu Imam and retired forest officer Narendra Mishra way back.
“We had long ago submitted our recommendations for conserving trees. Besides others, deploying tree transplantation machines was shown as a way to save the reckless tree felling,” said Mishra, a member of the six-member committee.
Following that the Department first in August 2016 and subsequently thereafter intended to purchase the machines but of no avail. “Rates from the companies have been sought for one machine. Certain adjustments are being done in the EOI. However, we cannot use the machine for national highway projects. In fact, the user agencies have to relocate trees on their own. Our job is to ascertain whether this is happening or not which we do from time to time,” said the RCCF.
But action is missing on the ground and the Department top brass is looking clueless. “RCCF of Ranchi region must be reviewing the situation,” was the short answer from PCCF Sanjay Kumar who is also Head of the Force for Jharkhand.
In the meantime, lakhs of other green lungs are standing tall next in the queue waiting frantically to be grounded!