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Forest Dept Is Starting A Green Helpline To Prevent Tree Felling And Preserve The City's Greenery

By siddharth22, Section Environment
Posted on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 10:43:28 PM EST

The forest department is starting a green helpline to prevent tree felling and preserve the city's greenery. Officials have even promised to react to anonymous callers if the report appears to be serious. Reacting to a TOI report that brought to light how trees were being felled at the Belvedere Estate, forest department officials said the toll-free green helpline, a first in the country, will be used to received regular feedback from people.

The green helpline was proposed by both the forest and the environment departments. These are the two prime government agencies responsible for formulating the green policy of the state. Any individual or group can call up on the numbers and lodge complaints.

According to a senior forest department officer, it is very difficult for the government to monitor tree felling activities. Most of the time, the authorities come to know of `green disasters' only after the damage has been done.

There is hardly anything for the government to do then. But if the culprit is nabbed red-handed, then he can be prosecuted.

The green helpline will help forest department officials to get information in real time so that they can act accordingly. "Just afforestation is not enough unless strong preservation steps are taken. In urban areas, there is a constant erosion of green because of constant development. We have to strike an intricate balance between the green drive and development," said chief conservator of forest (social forestry) Rakesh Sinha. Like deforestation, unplanned afforestation is also a major hindrance to development.

People, particularly infrastructure development agencies, can express their views on unplanned afforestation at this toll free number.

"We often face this problem. Different NGOs and social welfare organisations plant trees at places where some major construction would take place. By the time work begins, the trees grow up. If we fell the tree, NGOs bay for our blood.

Projects get stalled and delayed and we end up in court. This helpline at least can prevent such unplanned afforestation," said a senior KMDA engineer.

Felling a tree is an offence which may even land the offender behind bars for six months besides being slapped with a fine of Rs 1,000. If it is a compound offence, the jail-term is one year and the fine is Rs 5,000.

Source:The Times Of India,21-04-08

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