Forest dept acts on woman's tip, saves tree from axe in school in Kolkata
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Kolkata: Environmental activists have praised the prompt response of the state forest department in protecting a kadam tree that was being illegally felled on a school compound in Dum Dum's Bediapara.
This action was taken after the department learned of the incident from an email sent by a citizen to the range forest officer.
A woman from the neighbourhood spotted a few woodcutters axing the 50-ft tall tree on July 26 and stopped them. She wrote to the range forest officer after the men could not provide any approval to cut the tree. Acting on the complaint, the forest department inspected the site the following day and prevented any further harm to the tree.
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"When I wrote to the forest department, it was a formality. I was sceptical. But seeing the prompt action, I and others in the locality are encouraged. Three ponds in the area are under threat. One has already been partially filled up and turned into a parking area for cars. We hope to take up the fight to save these water bodies next," she said, requesting anonymity due to fear of backlash from local netas and dadas.
Bonani Kakkar of the green activism group PUBLIC said the forest department's prompt response to the SOS from an ordinary citizen keen to preserve a tree was extremely heartening.
"This will increase our belief in the system. People will know that a complaint will not be ignored but there will be a response. It will also encourage many more to fight against the destruction of greenery," she added.
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