Environment too becomes a casualty in Gujarat

vadodara: it happened in panchmahal. this week it was chhota udepur''s turn. environment has fallen victim to rioters and their rioting tactics. with tribals swearing to go in for the kill, scripting a primitive combat, trees are being chopped down in chhota udepur and surrounding regions with alarming frequency. for about two months now, several perennial trees have been brought down.logs of these trees are used for blocking roads to obstruct police from entering the area under siege while the shoots and branches are used for making spears and occasionally bows and arrows. "for tribals to use a tree log as a road block is a common tactic. they have done this in past and continue to do that with impunity. when we were attacked our conclave had been blocked from both sides with tree trunks", district collector bhagyesh jha said. jha and former district senior superintendent of police keshav kumar had to face a volley of arrows while they were on an inspection visit to kanwat. "the focus currently is more on the loss of life and property but the loss to environment should also be of concern. many trees have been brought down which means reduction of green foliage and this is especially bothersome in summer season with dry spell knocking at the door", jha said. besides chhota udepur, the loss of trees is substantial in panvad and kanwat-areas which had come under tribal attack in the initial phase of rioting in march. "they cut down trees, especially those growing on road side. chopping trees along the road is easier for them. if they chop trees in the interior areas they will have to employ extra strength to drag it up to the road", said social worker and kanwat resident nilesh shah. he added that tribals hardly have any concern for environment. "they don''t bother for environment. they are driven by instinct", shah said. police too confirm that tribals indulging in rioting have scant regard for environment or for that matter even human life. "they don''t mind hacking people, looting and torching houses. one can''t expect them to respect environment. they chop trees because huge wooden-logs are an important part of their defence. besides putting roadblocks also enables them to buy time", said a police official currently camping in chhota udepur. social forestry division here when contacted confirmed that plantations along the roadside in eastern part of the district have suffered. officials, however, said that so far the damage has not been quantified. "we have not compiled figures as to how many trees have been cut down but yes our plantation along the roads has been affected in chhota udepur and panvad", said a senior official of social forestry division here wishing anonymity. vadodara social forestry division deputy conservator of forests ramesh patel was not available to comment on the issue.