Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The Roadside Tree




The saddest part of the growth story of India is that in wake of urbanisation trees and greenery is getting lost.Small towns are growing into big cities and roads are broaden to give way to Highways.Raipur is also one of the cities which is quickly metamorphosing in to a big capital city.But those who have lived here know what the price is being paid.The city ,which once had plenty of trees,greenery ,lakes and water bodies ,is losing them day after day.Many big and flourishing trees alongside major roads of the city are cut so that the roads can be widen and traffic can run smooth.One day the tree in front of my house was also cut and i despised that i could not do anything.I had heard from my father that when he bought the house the place was little far from the actual Raipur city.The tree was a signpost through which the residents of the housing colony remembered their address.The tree was also a bus stop for those going to Durg ,Bhilai,Rajnandgaon and Nagpur regardless of the fact that a bus stop was made nearby for the commuters.But many said it is very comfortable beneath the tree.The tree also provided shed to a grocery seller.The grocery seller profited so much that he bought a home and took to shops on rent.After him a shoe repairer started sitting beneath the tree. The same tree was used in every elections and religious events to hang the loudspeakers.



In few strokes of axe people had ended so many stories and events attached to the tree. I knew it was inevitable as the growing city demanded more broader roads.To placate my conscience I field a Right to Information application in which i requested total number of trees being cut and how is this compensated.I got my application answered and i feel it a moral duty t share this information.



What i asked



1.Number of trees being cut to broaden the G.E.Road Raipur .



2.Replanting efforts being done to compensate the loss of trees.



The Executive Engineer,Department of Public Works,Chhattisgarh Government, Sambhag Krmank-1,Raipur , replied that



1.Total 256 trees are planned to be cut and Rs.375350 has been provided to Forest Department for cutting and transporting the logs.



2.For each tree cut 10 saplings will be planted by the forest department at Smriti Van , Sondongari,Raipur,for this additional Rs 642560 has been provided to the forest department at the rate of Rs 251 per sapling .



It feels consolatory to know that at least i know that the government has taken measures to compensate the loss of the old grownup trees,but still a feeling of incompleteness resides.It comes from heart a need to see by my own eyes that saplings are actually been planted and cared.Secondly personal redemption will only be full filed by planting, myself ,at least five trees nearby the place where once the tree used to stand.I hope my redemption will be complete.



Wish me luck.