Tharis call for imposing Section 144 to ban tree felling
MITHI: Members of civil society as well as activists of non-governmental organisations working for environment and other social issues in Thar have demanded the Sindh government should impose Section 144 to ban felling of trees to stop desertification in the area which is already facing brunt of climate change.
Mohammad Siddique Rahimoon, chief of a local NGO, told Dawn on Wednesday that timber mafia was busy cutting down trees in the desert region with complete impunity and without any fear of getting caught. Many old trees had been chopped down in Thar particularly in Chhachhro and Dahli talukas, he said.
He demanded the government should impose Section 144 to ban cutting down trees to stop desertification in the area, which was already facing the brunt of climate change. Every sensible and conscientious person was concerned over dangerous impact of deforestation, he said.
Khalid Kumbhar, social activist and writer, expressed deep concern over large-scale activities of timber mafia in Thar saying that it was a serious crime, especially at a time when governments in the Centre as well as in provinces had launched tree plantation drive.
He said that livestock in Thar survived only on leaves of trees during drought, still no action was in sight to control extermination of this main source of survival of livestock, which was mainstay of desert economy.
Sajan Charo, social activist, demanded the Sindh government should immediately direct deputy commissioner and officials of the forest department to take punitive action against those involved in the criminal activity with the help of local police.
Trees from tops of sand dunes and grazing lands which were government land were being cut down without any check, he said.
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