Fraud with nature
By Tejwant Singh

A MOUNTAIN on fire presents a deplorable scenario of almost irreversible damage to its flora and fauna. The leaping flames with their everwidening sweep scorch the entire physiognomy of the habitat, decimating or driving away the panic-stricken creatures, and this may go on for days, even weeks on end, year after year.

After the blaze dies (its natural death), the process of new growth of the same type of plant kingdom would necessitate several beneficial factors stretching over many decades, which must be conducive towards future germination, regeneration, unhindered sprouting and growth. Is that possible?

Till recently it was thought that the dwindling forest areas render ecological imbalances etc. In the region but now there is a growing awareness that the ill-effects bring great harm to the water-resources of the country as well. According to Sunder Lal Bahuguna,"mountains are the water-towers of the human kind." Ignoring the implied warning for too long would dry up these towers and the consequences would be unthinkable.

Coniferous pine trees account for almost all the wild mountain fires (because they contain resin, organic substance used in varnish and lacquer industry which is highly combustible) in Himachal Pradesh and mainly Uttarkhand region of U.P. Pine trees, though evergreen, cast off their needle-like leaves (each is about 25 cm in length) at a very slow undiscernible pace. Yet in due course they cover the forest slopes with a thick carpet. Once they get ignited, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to combat the blaze. The only solution is PREVENTION. Research has shown that these pine needles can be commercially used in various packing industries which use coir (from the coconuts). In H.P. , some enterprising industralists have started utilising this material in the manufacture of boards. Incidentally, collection of these leaves will create good employment opportunities for the hill-folk also. But it is easier said than done.

The incendiary masala for nine out of every 10 such fires comes directly through conspiracy, connivance and a well-honed modus operandi. From the smothing embers rises enough material for loot. More the destruction, more loot. Towards the closing hours of the drama, lots of unaffected green trees are thrown in for sharing out. Under the prevalent conditions, accountability becomes almost unfeasible. The coterie of crooks is made up of contractors, unscrupulous forest officials (honest ones have no place there) and a few misguided villagers. They can easily provide scapegoats. Finally so many square km. are converted into non-forest land (In U.P. alone nearly 140 km. of forest has been thus converted in the revenue records during the last three years.)

The blame is squarely shoved on the villagers. The common story that goes around says that the carpet of pine-needles doesn’t allow the grass to grow for their goats and cows. So they set them on fire. However, the experts contest this and explain that these leaves help preserve the moisture in the soil and by no means there can be any shortage of grass. The fire on the other hand burns away the top fertile soil which is then open to rains for washing it off the hillslopes.