The forest department is cutting down at least four lakh trees in the Rangpur Division in the name of renovation and expansion of tertiary and secondary canals including the main canal of the country’s largest Teesta irrigation project.
Local people including social workers and environmentalists have condemned the move and demanded an end to tree cutting.
The Water Development Board has taken up the project for the renovation and expansion of the Teesta irrigation canal at a cost of about one and a half thousand crore taka. However, despite the question about the effectiveness of this project, the forest department is cutting down at least 4 lakh trees of the entire division along the two sides of the irrigation canal.
When Rangpur division is affected by climate change, environmentalists demand that priority should be given to protecting trees and avoiding suicidal steps.
It was seen that at least 20 trees have been cut down in Chanderhat Bahalipara area of Nilphamari Sadar. In some areas, trees were cut long ago, but new trees have not been planted. In Taraganj of Rangpur, Teesta irrigation canal was full of trees, but now it is turning into a desert.
Rabiul Islam of Canal Ghensa Daulatpur village said what else can be done when the keeper is the eater. Forest department should plant trees.
According to the Social Forestry Scheme, trees should be cut after they are fully developed.
Caregivers of the trees are supposed to get 55 percent of the money sold through auction, while 20 percent will be given to the public. The remaining 25 percent will go to various departments and sectors of the government.
Trees were felled for the Teesta Irrigation Project, but the caretakers were not informed. A caregiver named Rasheda Begum said, “We have grown the trees by taking care of them, but we have not received any salary till now. I don’t know whether I will get the money from selling of the tree.”
However, Social Forestry Officer Rezaul Karim said the beneficiaries will be scrutinized and paid their fair amount.
Nilphamari Forest Department and Social Forestry Officer Rezaul Karim said 50 percent of trees have been cut in the project area of Nilphamari Sadar Upazila and Dimla Upazila under his responsibility.
Asafuddaula, executive engineer of Dalia Paubo, said trees are being cut for the sake of project renovation and expansion. Once the canal work is completed, new trees will be planted and a new agreement has already been made with the forest department.
Environmentalists are opposing cutting down so many trees at once. Bengali department teacher and director of Riverine People of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Tuhin Wadud said heat wave across the country has reached a terrible level this year. In this situation, it is unfair to cut so many trees at a time, he added.
There is no need for the 1,400 crore taka project taken by the government in the name of renovation and expansion of 7.5 km irrigation canals. A huge amount of money is being wasted unnecessarily. It won’t help. That is why the trees are being cut again, they added.
Rangpur Divisional Forest Officer could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.
