Editorial
Stealthy felling of trees in Sitakunda
Serious action needed against the predators
THE ferocity with which nature is being destroyed along the coastal areas, not to speak of other parts of the country, is mind-boggling. Only a few months ago, a group of influential and powerful elements had as many as 15,000 keora and bain trees cut down in the Sitakunda region. They simply walked off with the loot. Now comes news of the same region falling under new depredations. On Sunday night, about 5,000 trees were felled across a half kilometer area of the forest belt at Sonachhari coast. The obviously sinister intentions of those behind the deed can be noticed from the fact that the whole exercise was initiated and completed during the night, the better not to have the authorities know about the act. And by the time the robbery was detected, the damage had been done. Although a handful of people linked to the quarters involved in the act were arrested, one can hardly say it helped matters any.
The question now is: how is it that the administration remains unaware of such nefarious activities until the misdeed is done? Past experience should have been enough for the administration to take steps about keeping the coastal region safe from any kind of assault. Already there has been an outcry over the earlier incident of illegal tree felling in Sitakunda. That was in July. By now action should have been taken against those responsible. Unfortunately, it seems that those responsible were simply let off or the administration looked the other way. Because of that lapse, this new incident has occurred. The audacity with which the trees were cut down on Sunday night testifies to the strength of the elements indulging in such acts. More ominous is the fact that often it is the local people who, expecting to come by a windfall in the sense that they can collect logs and firewood once the trees are down, help the process along. As for the police, who should be springing into action against anyone engaged in such activities, it appears that they have not quite felt the grave nature of such predatory acts. The police officials concerned have made it known that no one from the forest department had lodged any complaint about the incident. Now, are we to suppose that until a formal complaint is lodged the police will remain immobile over such activities? Is it not their responsibility, as an institution of the state, to protect the resources of the state if and when they come under threat?
We understand that the minister of state for the environment ordered the dispatch of police to the spot while the felling was under way. But by the time they arrived at the place, the whole place wore a barren, empty look. Once again, therefore, we have a question: if the police could rush to the place on the directives of the minister, what prevented them from going there on their own in the first place? In the grave situation that has arisen, we urge the authorities to take forceful and convincing action against the men involved in the latest spate of nature destruction in Sitakunda. Unless such action is taken, trees and by extension nature will be under threat all across the country.
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