Open house: Are citizens not paying with their health for admn’s failure to check the felling of trees?

Numbering of trees can prevent felling

It takes years for a sapling to become a tree. A fully grown tree, as is well known, is the source of oxygen during the daytime. There are trees like Peepal and Bhohad that release oxygen round the clock. Unfortunately, these trees that are decades old are sometimes axed to carry out development works. Resentment among the public is but natural. A number of trees have been axed to carry out the widening of national highways. On the one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call to plant one sapling in the name of one’s mother, “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”. The axing of trees, especially in congested urban areas where the population is in large numbers, is unfortunate because these trees give shade and protection from sunlight besides providing numerous other benefits. They also give shelter to a number of species. The Forest Department should mark the trees by numbering them in the urban and rural areas so that seeking permission for axing these trees becomes mandatory. Also, the Forest Department should allow axing of trees only if it is utterly necessary. The Forest Department should verify if new saplings have been planted after the axing of old trees. It should appoint a task force to keep a check on the axing of trees on a permanent basis. It is trees that keep the ecological balance intact and environment free of pollution. Why then is the axing of trees allowed in the first place? There is need for environmental awareness to protect the trees, especially the ones that are old.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Question for next week

With the onset of the festive season, illegal vendors start encroaching on pavements and parking areas in cities, causing inconvenience to visitors. What steps should the municipal corporation take to check illegal vending and remove encroachments?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (October 17)

Axing of trees should have legal sanctity

While the government and administration are in deep slumber over protecting and conserving the green cover, the people are totally indifferent to the value of environment and its impact on public health and quality of life in general. It is a very serious problem and needs immediate handling on an urgent basis. A concerted and strong campaign for creating public awareness about planting, protecting and conserving the trees has to be undertaken as an emergency measure by the government. It is most unfortunate that a majority are prepared to cut any tree at the slightest provocation. Legal sanctity behind the cutting of a tree should be the same as in the case of murder of any human being, for which legislation is required and the law enforcement agencies should be made equally responsible for committing such a crime against the trees. It is unfortunate that there is no law in Punjab to save, protect and conserve trees in both public and private areas. The local municipal authorities and the police have miserably failed to even save the existing green cover whereas it should have been increased every year with specific targets and penalties for failure to do so.

Jagdish Chander

Strictness, awareness vital to save trees

The Central and state governments are not serious about the environment. They are unable to discharge their duties. They should make strict laws for the protection of forests and trees. Heavy fines and punishment are needed because many laws are made but they are not properly implemented, and people blindly cut the trees without any fear. They do not understand that they are bringing many diseases into their lives by cutting trees. Climate is changing due to the lack of forests. The government should stop clearing the forests for agricultural and habitation purposes. The government should form a committee to save forests by using the latest techniques to control forest fires. The government should make people aware about the need to save forests and environment. A campaign should be launched to inform people about the uses of trees in our lives. If trees are cut even after spreading awareness, heavy fine should be imposed on the defaulters and punishment given.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Loss of green cover a cause for concern

Although infrastructure development is vital to cater to the needs of a growing population, yet removal of greens to create space for upgrades has to be restricted because of its drastic impact on climate. While trees get some protection in posh areas due to the wariness of residents about their eco-friendly surroundings, at many other places, they are being felled with impunity, as if there is no fear of law. As of now, natural green cover is shrinking every day due to the ruthless cutting of trees and mining of forests for widening the roads and laying new residential and commercial projects. A consequential rise in temperature along with air and water pollution is a cause of worry as it poses serious danger to the health of humans and living organisms. Therefore, effective steps will have to be taken to preserve trees and forests as they provide oxygen and cleanse our environment by consuming carbon emissions, besides helping to conserve water by inducing rains. Having known that a sharp decline in green cover is bound to create environmental complications, we ought to be more sensitive towards these precious preserves of nature. To start with, fresh plantation is necessary to maintain ecological balance for which all vacant lands along the roads and water bodies should be subjected to an extensive plantation drive. The farmers are required to be sensitised to plant suitable saplings around their fields, which will make value addition besides giving a fillip to biodiversity across their lands. In addition, a proportionate green belt area has to be made mandatory for every upcoming housing and industrial project. Further, proactive involvement of general public must be encouraged to protect the sanctity of environment, while the administrative machinery needs to be extra vigilant against illegal mining and made wholly accountable for inaction to curb the incidents of undue felling of trees. After all, the citizens cannot be allowed to suffer due to the dereliction of duty on the part of civic authorities.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Green cover has bearing on health

The removal of green cover by the people without any fear of the law significantly impacts their health. Trees and green spaces are crucial in maintaining air quality, reducing pollution and providing numerous physical and mental health benefits. They help remove pollutants from the air, such as particulate matter and gases like nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, which can lower the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Trees and green spaces offer shade and cooling through evapotranspiration, helping to mitigate the urban heat effect and reduce related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Access to these improves mental well-being by reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Additionally, the increasing demand for air- conditioning and cooling further expands urban heat, leading to frequent power cuts, higher energy consumption, and associated costs. Increasing energy use often relies on fossil fuels, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating global warming and climate change. Hence, the administration needs to focus on planting more and more trees, creating green spaces, installing green roofs and promoting use of materials that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat to reduce surface temperatures. Designing cities with better air flow and incorporating more natural landscapes can also help in this direction.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Punish people for mindless cutting

Certainly, the citizens have to suffer from health problems caused by the removal of green cover, largely due to the inaction of administration, with people axing trees with impunity. Global warming is increasing throughout the world, so in case trees are cut by people mindlessly, then our environment will get destroyed and temperatures will rise. So, the need of the hour is for the administration to wake up and take action against people who remove green cover with impunity by awarding the severest punishment.

Sanjay Chawla

Govt agencies should act as per norms

Green belts are the basic necessity of people, no matter the amount of wealth or status. The irony is that trees and shrubs in posh areas are being taken care of and well maintained whereas in localities inhabited by the common man, the repetitive practice of cutting and pruning trees in the name of development or simply because of the egos of some residents, keeps taking place. Due to this, many citizens are forced to live in deplorable conditions which can also result in severe and fatal diseases like asthma and other lung related ailments. The administration ought to act swiftly. It should first enforce laws against those who cut trees illegally.

Lakshit Jindal