The debate over land acquisition is turning into a left versus right squabble, with the “Green” perspective being ignored (“ >Sowing the seeds of a disaster ”, July 29). Just a few days ago, the Green Tribunal rapped the government for trying to force projects through in the name of them being “linear”. The ‘Go-No Go’ classification is already a matter of the past and this subterfuge further worsens it. Empty fallow land also supports an amazing amount of biodiversity and over a period of time must be allowed to return to its native state. We are creating deserts and then toxifying them in the name of industries and infrastructure. Let the EIA be as equal and vital as a social assessment. In this talk of the poor farmer and the industrialist and others, will somebody stand up for our quiet denizens — fauna and flora?
Anoop Hosmath,
Mysuru
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill is a classic case of government posing itself as the saviour of forests when in fact it is destroying them. Through this Bill, the government has gone the flawed way of compensating a loss of forest lands in protected areas for “development” projects by planting trees elsewhere. The idea of a forest is not just about trees but about a more complex system that involves biodiversity as a whole. While the government may claim that it has balanced green loss, the impact on biodiversity may never get compensated.
Gaurav Moghe,
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
The implementation of the Forest Rights Act has created pockets of land owners in the midst of forests. This is bound to destroy more green cover as these pockets will encourage the creation of habitation leading to a further opening of forests for connectivity and other needs. To save forests and increase vegetative cover, forest lands must be protected from fragmentation. Natural regeneration should be encouraged instead of having a wasteful expenditure on afforestation.
S.D. Mukherji,
Hyderabad
