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Tree doctor's plea to Rahul Gandhi

Last Updated 18 February 2018, 14:47 IST

Frustrated with the indifference and apathy of the political system and the powers-that-be, Bengaluru-based tree doctor and tree committee member (Karnataka) Project Vruksha Foundation, Vijay Nishanth, has shot off a letter to none other than Congress president Rahul Gandhi, urging him to intervene and possibly stall the proposed amendment to the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976 (Karnataka Act 76 of 1976).

Vijay has taken objection to one of the clauses in the amendment which involves felling some of trees across the State and some of them are, in fact, located on lands owned by farmers. "If this amendment is passed, then we stand to lose more than 50 common species of trees. I don't think this should be allowed because this proposal will not benefit the farmers in any way but only a handful of timber mafia," says Vijay, who organised a protest, in the city over the weekend, at Town Hall.

Vijay is spearheading the movement along with a group of urbanists from Bengaluru to revoke the proposed amendment and save the tree population.

The protest call given by Vijay elicited a good response with people coming in from Mangaluru, Kodagu and Mysuru. "There were a cross-section of people participating in the protest like conservationists, residents and students. I am glad that a one-man's call has elicited a tremendous response," he says.        

He points out that some of the dominant species of trees that will come under threat if this amendment is passed are  Paradise Tree ('Lakshmi Tharu' which helps in the cure for cancer and in preservation of groundwater), 'Bauhinia Purpurea', Gulmohar, African Tulip and even the coconut trees, some of which are located on the farmer's land. "All these varieties have a distinct role and part in protecting and conserving the environment," says Vijay. How will the felling of trees benefit the farmers? "This is a clear plan to favour the timber mafia. Most of the trees are a combination of common and exotic species and it will be difficult for us to plant those trees again. This amendment must be stopped and these trees must be preserved for posterity," he says. So does he think that Rahul Gandhi will intervene? Vijay says, "I have managed to contact the man who is closest to him and I hope that he will intervene and do something the earliest. Issues like this must be brought to the notice of the Centre," he says.  

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(Published 18 February 2018, 12:22 IST)

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