Green shame
A record 9.19 lakh saplings were planted at 400 places in the city in July. Saplings at 2 of the sites, GMDC and GU gymnasium grounds, are now being conveniently removed for Navratri celebrations
Yogesh Avasthi, Mehul Jani
Posted On Thursday, October 07, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=201010072010100703481869875cf5789)
Two months ago, the city and state administration with the help of thousands of eco-conscious Amdavadis planted a staggering 9.19 lakh tree saplings at 400 prominent sites in a day. The exercise was trumpeted as Ahmedabad’s bid for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, today, the proofs of this mammoth drive — the saplings — are being conveniently erased.
At two of the sites, GMDC and GU gymnasium grounds, tractors and trucks can be seen crushing young plants (see pictures). The grounds are venue for ‘Swarnim Navratri’ celebrations announced by Gujarat Industries Navratri Festival Society.
Frantic preparations are underway at the two places — stage and mandaps are being set up; parking space is being created — and saplings are bearing the brunt of all these activities.
None of the officials or ‘green volunteers’, who posed for cameras while planting saplings during the July 31 drive, are making any efforts to prevent the plants from being buried under construction material or removed by tractors.
The tree plantation drive on July 31 was jointly carried out by the forest department, AMC, AUDA and GU. It was part of Swarnim Prakruti Mahotsava. Pits for saplings were dug in advance at 400 sites, including the two aforesaid grounds, CN Vidyalaya and STP Pirana, and lakhs of rupees were spent on buying plants. An estimated 25,000 green volunteers and several senior officials, including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, took part in the drive.
The entire effort, however, is now going to waste, with no one tending to planted saplings. Surprisingly, even the spot where Modi planted a sapling is in a poor condition. This despite the fact that on July 31, authorities and eco-conscious denizens vowed to take care of young trees.
The GMDC ground will be the main venue for Swarnim Navratri 2010, whereas the GU gymnasium ground will serve as the parking facility for event. At the former, saplings survival is under threat from makeshift structures being erected for the event. At the latter, ground is being levelled to create space for parking.
When Mirror contacted GU V-C Parimal Trivedi, who announced creation of a ‘Swarnim Forest’ at the gymnasium ground on July 31, he said that the space had been given to the tourism department for Navrati celebrations. “It is their responsibility to make sure saplings are not harmed,” he said. According to Trivedi, 2,500 and 3,000 saplings were planted at GMDC and gymnasium grounds, respectively, during the green drive.
On how organisers of Swarnim Navratri would compensate for damage to saplings, he said they will be ‘repaired’. On being questioned further, he said: “New plants will be planted,” he said. The GU V-C said that the varsity would take up the issue with the state government.
Yogesh Avasthi, Mehul Jani
Posted On Thursday, October 07, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=201010072010100703481869875cf5789)
Two months ago, the city and state administration with the help of thousands of eco-conscious Amdavadis planted a staggering 9.19 lakh tree saplings at 400 prominent sites in a day. The exercise was trumpeted as Ahmedabad’s bid for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, today, the proofs of this mammoth drive — the saplings — are being conveniently erased.
At two of the sites, GMDC and GU gymnasium grounds, tractors and trucks can be seen crushing young plants (see pictures). The grounds are venue for ‘Swarnim Navratri’ celebrations announced by Gujarat Industries Navratri Festival Society.
Frantic preparations are underway at the two places — stage and mandaps are being set up; parking space is being created — and saplings are bearing the brunt of all these activities.
None of the officials or ‘green volunteers’, who posed for cameras while planting saplings during the July 31 drive, are making any efforts to prevent the plants from being buried under construction material or removed by tractors.
The tree plantation drive on July 31 was jointly carried out by the forest department, AMC, AUDA and GU. It was part of Swarnim Prakruti Mahotsava. Pits for saplings were dug in advance at 400 sites, including the two aforesaid grounds, CN Vidyalaya and STP Pirana, and lakhs of rupees were spent on buying plants. An estimated 25,000 green volunteers and several senior officials, including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, took part in the drive.
The entire effort, however, is now going to waste, with no one tending to planted saplings. Surprisingly, even the spot where Modi planted a sapling is in a poor condition. This despite the fact that on July 31, authorities and eco-conscious denizens vowed to take care of young trees.
The GMDC ground will be the main venue for Swarnim Navratri 2010, whereas the GU gymnasium ground will serve as the parking facility for event. At the former, saplings survival is under threat from makeshift structures being erected for the event. At the latter, ground is being levelled to create space for parking.
When Mirror contacted GU V-C Parimal Trivedi, who announced creation of a ‘Swarnim Forest’ at the gymnasium ground on July 31, he said that the space had been given to the tourism department for Navrati celebrations. “It is their responsibility to make sure saplings are not harmed,” he said. According to Trivedi, 2,500 and 3,000 saplings were planted at GMDC and gymnasium grounds, respectively, during the green drive.
On how organisers of Swarnim Navratri would compensate for damage to saplings, he said they will be ‘repaired’. On being questioned further, he said: “New plants will be planted,” he said. The GU V-C said that the varsity would take up the issue with the state government.
