Syed Ali Shah :
In a rare case, a person was fined Rs.12,000,00 for cutting down an ancient tree in the heart of Quetta city. The Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department had fined a person for cutting an old tree at Abdul Sattar and Archer Road Chowk a few days back.
“This was an effort to teach a lesson to the people to avoid cutting trees”, Niaz Khan Kakar, the Conservator of Forest Quetta Division explained. It was an ancient tree and the accused had cut it during the darkness of night.
However, images of the fallen tree had gone viral on social media by citizens. This prompted the Forest Department to impose a fine while exercising forest laws.
Muhammad Aslam Rind, a social worker highlighted the issue
Muhammad Aslam Rind, a political and social worker had played a key role in highlighting the incident and sensitizing the concerned quarters. “This was the beauty of this area”, Mr. Rind said.
Citizens of the neighboring areas were always enjoying the cold shadow of the tree every summer. However, an influential person deprived them because of the construction of a building.
“Protection of trees and forests indispensable in Balochistan”, Niaz Khan Kakar stated. He mentioned that every area must have 25 percent forest as per the standards set by the environmentalists but unfortunately, there was only 1.5 percent forest area in Balochistan. “This is alarming and it is posing a serious threat to the environment”, Mr. Kakar informed.
Case registered and challan submitted against the accused
Mr. Kakar mentioned that watchman of the building has revealed that Muhammad Naeem Achakzai, the owner of the under-construction plot was involved in choking the tree. A case under the forest act was registered against the accused and a challan was submitted in this regard.
The fine fixed by English colonial rulers was currently nominal. Our lawmakers also failed to amend the forest laws to increase the fine amounts to make sure the protection of trees and forests and bring an end to deforestation.
Niaz Kakar also informed that earlier huge amount of fine was imposed on some accused of choking down ancient trees in Quetta. “Zero tolerance in this regard”, he concluded.
