By Reena Nongmaithem
When people across the globe are showing serious concern about the protection of trees in their respective environment, Manipur Government Forest Department is turning blind eye to the massive cutting of trees grown at the southern side of Manipur University Gate along NH-102.
The trees were cut in the name of widening the road stretch but many questions the rationale behind the cutting of the trees which took several years to grow.
“Although the Government’s step was to widen the road, was it inevitable to turn the area to a desert like situation”, said a University student while speaking to this reporter.
She further said that the area is now not less than a desert without any trees.
University Security personnel as well as shopkeepers near University expressed that they felt emptiness without the trees. The place was once a beautiful place with trees growing at the roadside.
A shopkeeper said the trees were giving shades to passersby and especially the Auto Drivers and School Service Vans.
While speaking to this reporter, an auto driver said that at the beginning of this year, he encountered some persons who were counting the trees, who later told him that they have come for survey as some of trees had to be chopped down for the widening of highway.
That time, when he asked them whether all the trees would be cut down?, the persons told him that two rows at least 100 trees out of total four rows will be left while others had to be chopped down, he added.
“I feel very distress to see such empty look, we (auto drivers) used to take shelter under the trees”, complained the driver.
The trees were chopped down by localities including auto drivers after being instructed by the concern department on last 13-14 Feb. However he had no knowledge whether the localities were told to cut down all the 200 trees or not, he informed.
Concerning over the merciless act of Manipur Government, MUSU President Chingsubam Manglemton told this reporter that he was shocked when he saw the disastrous scene. He asked how the Government could be so inhumane when the whole Globe is being hit with issues of Global Warming, Climate Change and so on.