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 doesnt
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.
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