‘A tree is a mini-universe by itself’

‘A tree is a mini-universe by itself’
The Times of India

The High Court has observed that there’s nothing wrong with cutting trees to facilitate free flow of traffic. What do you have to say?
I do not agree that this is the solution to our traffic problems. Look at all the things that can go wrong if you cut even one tree— a tree that can give oxygen to as many as 20 people, that is a symbol of the vision of those who planted it so many years ago, that creates ecological balance. What will happen to all that? A tree is a mini-universe by itself.

So what can be done to improve traffic flow?
You can bring in one ways, create smaller roads, close some of the roads to traffic during parts of the day, reduce the number of new vehicles coming into the city. Instead of cutting the flow where it is naturally possible, they are proposing to cut down nature by its roots. Cutting down trees can never ease traffic flow, because there are still so many vehicles coming in. After the trees, you will have to break down homes.

Is it possible to make up for the loss of a tree by planting a few more?
There is no equation that can make up for the loss of a tree. Look at the number of years it takes for a tree to grow. Even if you grow five saplings in the place of one tree, there is no way of planting a tree of the same species in the same place.

SURESH HEBBLIKAR
Environmentalist
On cutting trees to allow traffic flow