JOIN US'Give your time, small part of salary to rebuild forest'
Let every responsible citizen support Government by contributing one day’s labour supplemented by one hour’s wages to help nature recover from fire tragedy of Nagarhole national Park, appealed A C Lakshmana, former secretary to Government of Karnataka.
Addressing a press meet here in city on Monday, he said, the tragedy demands timely and appropriate action. Nothing comes without sacrifice, when nature demands it, do not waste the energy and time. There has been suffocation and death of millions of organisms. There are visible and invisible workers (organisms), who help in the transmission of fertility in soil for plant growth.
The high temperature fire is responsible for death of most of these workers, he added.
In summer, the soil is exposed to the ravages of sun, followed by gusty winds and monsoon rain and subsequent erosion and silting up of stream margins, tanks and rivers. Agriculture productivity is affected adversely because of the high temperature caused by fire would have evaporated soil moisture in vicinity.
The sponging and moisture holding capacity of these 1,275 acres of area is lost. If the afforestation activity is not done now, Nagarhole forest cannot be restored at any point of time. The initiative should be taken now to plant saplings, Lakshmana said. There has been evidence of bitter experiences in the fire mishaps previously. Bhagavathy valley forest of Chikamaglur district in 1967 had its nearly 200 acres of giant balgi trees engulfed by fire. Government spent more attention towards conducting a judicial inquiry rather than assisting in covering the wound. Now nothing can rebuild or compensate the destroyed forest, he said.
The other incident is Nagarhole National Park itself set ablaze because of the rift between department and public. Nearly 400 acres of forest of the park was razed to ground. The ground fire which spread in other areas also threatened and devoured the young generation of flora and fauna. Heavy penalty was paid when flowered dry bamboo caught fire around 2004 and laid down vast stretches of barren land.
But fortunately under rigid fire protection, nature took up the responsibility of sprouting of young seedings. With the dedicated efforts of forest department, almost 65 per cent os forest has been recovered though, original beauty of forest will not come back, he said.
“I do not decry the carrying of inquiry. Let it continue to investigate role of public, foresters and other connected people including the role of neighbours, NGOs and if needed tribals also. But the inquiry has to be transparent, conducted by a person of experience and integrity,” he urged.
Nagarhole now has six inches of ashes from ground, standing as mute witness of tragedy. Fire is also still there in subtle form.
Fire brigade have to be rushed immediately to completely extinguish fire at least along roadside, failing of which might cost more than a week to douse out the fire, he added.
Laying aside other priorities, there is a need to give attention to support the cause.
Clear thinking, planning, slow but steady, silent and firm action is required at the moment. It has to be a smooth affair requiring understanding, planning, men, material and silent execution, Lakshamana said.