When will the raping of our city stop?

When will the raping of our city stop?
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: In 1974, Gaura Devi gathered a group of women and children hugged the trees, protecting them from the lumbermen. This action was a defining moment for the Chipko movement that gave resistance to deforestation a new meaning.

Last week, Bangalore city witnessed its own chipko movement. There was a spontaneous public outburst against the indiscriminate felling of trees on Residency Road. A motley group of people were seen climbing atop the tree while others surrounded it to prevent felling.

Soon after I, along with others, received a letter from a tree lover. Note the desperation in between the lines.

‘‘... the spontaneous protest march against the cutting of trees on Residency Road shows that ordinary people care about their city. However, what is clear is that the cutting will commence at night or early morning when everyone is asleep. So there is a need to maintain all night vigils to prevent any further cutting.

The volunteers will have to cover MG Road too where cutting is planned. Some of the volunteers rushed off to Bull temple Road to prevent cutting (of trees) there. Tonight or tomorrow will be hectic days for the cutting will continue and we need to be vigilant and inform each other... Hope that we can prevent any further damage tonight.’’

The last I heard was that a few decade old rain-forest trees have been cut. I wonder how many years it would take for the authorities to grow another tree like that. For how long can people hold midnight vigils, organize protest marches and the likes to fight for their right to a green environment?

These are tools used by people in countries ruled by autocrats and not democrats? Why cannot the authorities take the public into confidence and together find worthwhile solutions to urban problems instead of acting on their whims and fancies? When will the government pay heed to people’s voices? For how long can we be mute witnesses to the raping of our city?

It is a fact that trees must contend with urbanization. However, our city is losing more trees than it can plant. There are no places to put our trees back. In the name of development the green cover of our city is being replaced by impermeable surfaces.

When you cut down trees to make way for parking lots, wider roads and other concrete structures, you are increasing the temperature by five to ten degrees. This increase in temperature has a lot of negative impact on the climate and on people’s health.

When rain falls on trees, mist rises and new rain clouds form. When trees are cut down, this cycle is disrupted and the area eventually grows drier, causing a change in the local climate. And anyone can tell you how the famous Bangalore-climate has changed in the last few years.

In our city we are burning more fossil fuel than any other metros. This shows up in the form of CO2 in the atmosphere contributing to the greenhouse effect. Only trees can help reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.

Here are some more reasons why our authorities should find alternate solutions to urban problems rather than chopping our trees. According to a series of studies done by the University of Illinois’ Human-Environment Research Laboratory, it was found that hospital patients who could view trees out their windows recovered more quickly from surgery than patients with views of a brick wall and that workers are more productive if their commutes pass by greenery-filled parks.

Results show that the presence of green-spaces can strengthen social ties in a neighbourhood, reduce levels of aggression and violence, and help people cope with everyday stress. Raising and teaching children in a green environment can put them on the path to success early in their lives.

One study showed that interaction with nature significantly curtailed the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It would help to remember what Gandhi said: Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs but not every man’s greed.