Environmental concern in action
Who doesn’t care for the environment? Everyone does but some people believe in action more than being social media environmental activists. On Saturday last, Team Jiva and a few concerned citizens teamed up (after adopting COVID-appropriate behaviour with masks and distancing) went to Shillong Peak to find out whether the trees planted on June 6 this year by the Chief Minister and his team are still intact. Last year too, the students of a particular school had visited Shillong Peak to plant Cherry Blossom trees but having done the job of planting, no one ever revisits those trees. Team Jiva led by Jiwat Vaswani has taken it upon itself to look after these trees by feeding them with manure and weeding out the area around the trees. Shillong Peak is very windy hence most trees, if not properly supported at the initial stages, would all bend in the direction of the wind and later be trampled upon by humans and animals.
Team Jiva on Saturday gave a wooden support to each of the trees bent by the wind. However, they also noticed one thing. Most of the trees had their tops eaten up by animals. While trying to figure out which animal had committed the mischief, they saw a herd of cattle passing by. The cows merrily ate up whatever came their way. They ate up the young trees, the grass and whatever was green and had leaves on them. When the cowherd was told that there is a clear notification put up by the Syiem of Mylliem just outside the large meadow that cows and sheep are not allowed to graze there, the man shot back: “This road through the meadow is not only for humans. It’s for animals too. Don’t blame the animals for the young trees that are under attack. It’s not the cows that are attacking them. It’s humans who break up these young trees that are planted.” With that smart retort he went ahead whistling away as if he had scored a brownie point. The Syiem of Mylliem says he has appointed forest guards there but they are nowhere to be seen. The last time they complained that there is no shelter for them from the rain and sun. Perhaps this shelter is the need of the hour. People of Shillong who enjoy the hospitality of those meadows should do a crowdfunding project to build a nice little chowkidar’s shed with some eco-friendly materials. Food for thought!
Cull these trees
At a time when the town is rightly agog about saving the iconic boulevard of towering pine trees (Cryptomeria japonica) at Upper Shillong, evoking prompt and positive response from the government, it is also imperative that somebody draws the attention of the Forest officials to cull the dead trees and trees that are hanging precariously. Some trees in town need to be removed before long because they pose a risk for the habitants nearby. A retired Forest official claims that the forest manual provides for such an exercise in order to ensure that human lives are not at risk. Shillong, in the recent years, has witnessed many a fatal incident due to fall of pine trees, especially during the monsoon season. Now that rainy season is predicted to set in by mid-July, let the Forest officials undertake a quick field survey to identify the tress that need to be culled.
In fact, while on the issue of forest survey, knowledgeable circles wonder why the Forest department can’t enumerate the number of trees that exist outside the reserved forest area. The department is mandated to provide a number, if not also mention the genera, to all trees and inscribe it on the body of the tree for easy tracking. In the absence of any identification number, it will be well nigh impossible to keep a tab on the trees that are prone to felling without going through the process. Will the Forest authorities act?
The shopping list
Markets have opened up, albeit partially, and more stores and shopping complexes are set to reopen from Monday. On the sidelines, families have spent this past week drawing up their shopping list. With public transportation also expected to be back on the roads from Monday, many would surely be making their way to Khyndai Lad, the prime shopping hub in the city for relaxation and for some shopping.
Some families who spoke with the SJ team said it would be more about coming out of their homes rather than shopping. “The lockdown kept us locked indoors. We are finally going to come out of the cocoon,” a family said over the phone. Another family echoed the same sentiments: “We just want to go out. That’s our main purpose. Of course, there will be some purchases as well. We are only worried about taking the kids out. It’s probably not safe for them right now.”
Youngsters are eagerly waiting for the reopening of dine-in facilities in restaurants and cafés. Some others were excited about getting the opportunity to shop from the vendors. While protocol is on top of the agenda, the shopping lists seem to be more about breaking the shackles than essential purchases.