Can we really do something out of the box?
I recently came across the news
about the Aarey green belt in Mumbai being reduced by around 2600 trees in the
Aarey forest for setting up a metro car
shed. In an era when we all are considering the trees as the most precious
living things on the earth, this news was like a sharp bolt in the
face! The reasons were related to advancement of urban civil life, ease in
human conveyance, saving of man hours and so on. Huge protests were put up by
social activists, environment preservers, nature lovers on social media, in
various ways and this caught fire! Twitter
and Facebook was full of audio and video clips of what went on in the Aarey
forest for a few days! They had their own reasons and they were following
orders! It is a subtle logic that for some progress, some where some things
have to be sacrificed! Taking into consideration today’s increasing
consumerism, leading to enhancing pollution, nature deterioration and
degradation, global warming, depleting natural resources, it is a crime to destroy
our nature and surroundings! Yet, we cannot put obstacles in the path of
progress. Aarey forest was supposedly not recognised
as a proper forest or an ecological sensitive issue because of jurisdictional
limits.
What can then be done?
Can we do something else, to recover
the loss that was incurred because of the felling of such a large number of
trees? Can we plant more trees, nurture them, care for them, grow them, protect
them?
Such thoughts crossed the minds of
very environment sensitive citizens of a small village called Chinchani, near
Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India. They were furious about the cutting down of Aarey
green belt but they knew it was futile to fight against the law and hence they
took a GREEN and FEASIBLE wise decision to plant 1100 trees using Japanese technique.
As a step towards this decision, in one day, they planted 250 indigenous trees,
as a mark of protest!
Chinchani has an interesting history!
This village was initially situated at the base of hill station Mahabaleshwar,
in Satara district. It was endowed with perennial natural beauty, blessed with
very good rainfall, beautiful surroundings and greenery all year round! The
village had to be displaced from this wonderland during the execution of
Kanheri Dam Project! And that too at a barren, rocky, mountainous land near
Pandharpur in Solapur district! It was a devastating transition for the
citizens used to the naturally endowed surroundings. But, as fighters that they
were, they did not lose heart! In the next ten years, the residents planted
four thousand trees. They successfully executed rain water harvesting projects,
to conserve and preserve natural rain water. Not a single drop of water is
wasted. In times of water scarcity, trees are first supplied water and then the
residents!
The trees here have led to a very
calm, quiet and green environment, where birds dwell freely. They are supplied
with grains and water by the nature loving residents and no crackers are fired
during Diwali or other festivals, to protect their breeds! They first planted
250 trees followed by 400 and the remaining within a week! That was their constructive
way of showing their anger! The choice of trees was also complimentary to the
requirements of regional environment!
Japanese technique proposes to plant
trees in communities as, according to environmentalist Miyawaki, trees too love
to grow in communities! This technique has been adapted by the environment
lovers and using drip irrigation, they plan to raise a forest on these barren mountains!
They plan to grow 150 trees per head in the next eight years and that too using
their own resources and money. They plan to become totally self sufficient!
Three cheers to their positive thinking and green endeavour!
Green Blogger
Dr. Jaya Vikas Kurhekar
