Hindustan Times

Utpal Parashar (New Delhi, February 1)

NOTED ENVIRONMENTALIST Sunderlal Bahuguna has appealed to the people of Himachal Pradesh to relaunch the Chipko Andolan in protest against the recent decision of the State Government to lift the 16-year-old ban on felling trees for commercial purposes.

"The ban should continue as felling of trees will affect the bio-diversity of the region immensely. If the Government does not reimpose the ban immediately, the people should relaunch the movement," Mr Bahuguna said while speaking to The Hindustan Times here.

He added that the recent move of the Himachal Pradesh Government might even lead the Uttar Pradesh Government to lift a similar ban, imposed 19 years ago in the state. Mr Bahuguna is in the Capital to speak to Union ministers and members of the Planning Commission to request them to reimpose the ban.

The ban was lifted in 1992 when the state was under President's Rule, but was reimposed by the succeeding Congress Government. For the past several years, the HP Government has been requesting the Centre to compensate the state by means of special grants to cover the loss in revenue suffered because of the ban. Its removal is expected to bring in an additional yearly revenue of nearly Rs 100 crore to the state.

In 1981, following pressure from all quarters after the successful Chipko Andolan, the UP Government had imposed a ban on commercial felling of trees. The HP Govt had followed suit.

In addition to continuing the ban on felling trees, Mr Bahuguna urged the Government to come up with a policy to protect the flora and fauna of the Himalayan state. "Himalayan states should be given adequate funds to launch massive tree-plantation drives. Subsidies should be given to the people directly and they should be encouraged to plant more trees," he said. Mr Bahuguna stated that the entire Himalayan range falling in India should be cultivated to prevent ecological disaster. "Rivers of the area are already getting polluted and there is scarcity of clean water. Nowadays, we have substitutes for timber, but there is no substitute for pure water. And if the ban is not reimposed, a famine might affect the state very soon," warned Mr Bahuguna.

The environmentalist stressed the need to plant nut and fruit-bearing trees. "Nut-bearing trees like walnut and chestnut, edible seed giving trees like almond, oil-giving trees like apricot and trees providing seasonal fruits like apple should be planted. This will also bring about economic prosperity for the people of the region," Mr Bahuguna stated. He emphasised that trees provide the five vital Fs (food, fodder, fuel, fertiliser and fibre) and the Government should ensure that more trees are planted for a pollution free society.

It is feared that the latest move of the State Government may lead to the timber mafia of the state becoming active once again.