Several heritage trees of many species along the bank of Ichamati River for over 1 km from the burning ghat at ward no 5 in Taki municipality to BSF camp near Hasnbad in Basirhat were allegedly cut off by the BSF jawans on the pretext of cutting tree branches. Among the felling of the trees, the precious heritage trees like Sunderbans Mangrove Geoa, Keora, Bun and Hetal were also cut off allegedly by the BSF jawans of 85 no battalion at Taki Indo-Bangla border areas.
With the felling of trees, the local people and the members of West Bengal Science Forum have been shocked. Partha Mukherjee, the president of Paschim Banga Biggan Mancha (West Bengal Science Forum), Ichamati unit said severely condemned the felling of trees along the bank of the Ichamati River. “On the pretext of cutting some tree branches, several full grown trees were cut off. It leads to a severe pollution in environment. We planted the many heritage trees like Mangroves species along Ichamati River. The plantation of trees have no alternative to save the world from natural disaster or calamities to prevent floods, soil erosion and air pollution etc. Those trees are also planted to maintain ecological balance. But we have been shocked with such felling of the precious trees. We have already lodged a complaint with Hasnabad police station against the felling of trees. We have demanded a strong action against the accused who cut the trees,” Partha Babu said. According to a Taki municipal sources, nobody took permission from the municipal authorities for the cutting of the trees. The BSF, however, didn’t make any comment in this connection.
Bengali