PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Experts have emphasised that the State government must ensure that the celebration of Harela goes beyond merely planting trees as a ceremonial act; it is equally important to focus on ensuring that these trees survive and grow. Each year, Harela is observed in the State, with the State government taking the initiative to plant saplings during this event. This year, more than five lakh trees were planted across the State on Harela recently and the plantation is expected to continue in the coming days.
However, experts have noted that simply planting trees is insufficient as protection and maintenance are also crucial.
“Planting trees is crucial, but equally important is the maintenance of those trees. The State government should ensure that tree planting during Harela is not a mere formality; a concrete maintenance plan must also be developed. Otherwise, the planted trees will not survive or achieve the desired impact,” stated Padma Shri awardee and founder of Maiti Andolan, Kalyan Singh Rawat.
He emphasised that both the government and local residents should take responsibility to develop a maintenance strategy before planting trees. Rawat suggested that the government should first establish a maintenance plan for the trees planted during the Harela festival, which would then set an example for the community. This approach, he believes, could significantly combat global warming and other environmental challenges in the future.
The founder of Humanities Himalaya Lokesh Ohri said that the State government’s commitment to planting numerous trees during Harela is primarily a means to alleviate its guilt for having cut down trees that have stood for 300 years, in the name of development.
He stated that the celebration of Harela through tree planting is merely a governmental formality, as the removal of trees aged 300 or 100 years is far more detrimental to the ecosystem than the benefit from planting of new ones. These new trees will take a century to mature and have an impact. Ohri said that the establishment of Rashtrapati Niketan resulted in the felling of around eight to 10 old trees. While authorities should indeed commemorate Harela by planting new trees as a positive initiative, it is crucial that they focus less on mere symbolism and more on developing policies to protect the older trees from being cut down. This includes ensuring the preservation of these significant trees. Further, if authorities are to plant trees during Harela is to be fruitful, they must first establish a system for their care. He added that health issues, waterlogging and other problems have increased due to the removal of trees.
