Mohammad Ashraf
Providence has bestowed us with many resources of which we are highly indebted to Him. Without these resources the life on this planet would have been very pathetic to live on. We do make use of these resources in gratis as we are not being charged for their utility. Since the existence of life on this planet-earth man has been using these resources for his survival and sustenance.
With the advancement in science and technology there has been tremendous pressure on these resources. With the emergence of latest technologies these resources lost their sanctity to a great extent. The industries directly or indirectly are taking a great toll on our virgin resources. They industries extort natural resources for the raw materials they require for the finished products.
Besides industrialization the population explosion is also responsible for erosion of natural resources. The excess growth in population exerts a great pressure on our resources. Subsequently a huge chunk of forest land has been grabbed by unscrupulous elements. Not only forest lands but also the wet lands have not been spared. Due to this chocking of natural drainage system the residential areas near the water bodies are prone to devastation because of floods. Moreover in our rural areas the lands meant for collective use of the community which in local parlance are called “Kacharie” lands have been grabbed by the unscrupulous and self willed elements by even manoeuvring the mutilation of revenue records.
The countrymen of our rural pockets do chop down huge green trees of deodar in order to fulfill their cheap needs. They do chop them for timber and wood procurement. We do also witness the rural women folk venture our thick forest areas in order to fetch firewood. These women also plunder our forest resources by chopping down the young saplings. The forests act as the lungs of this planet-earth. They (forest trees) suck the toxic gases in the environment. Hence they act as the natural hospitals. But alas! We axe down the forest trees indiscriminately for our cheap wants. As a result of these cheap activities from the humans, the forest lands have become bald. The habitation of wild animals has been disturbed to a great extent. The incidents of conflicts between humans and wild .When man started to encroach the habitats of wild animals they in return started to trespass the residential areas. This devastation of forest resources has a very unwholesome impact on our environment. It has led rise in global temperature. The green house gases have risen to an alarming level as they (gases) do not find enough sponge for their absorption.
The normal weather phenomenon has got disturbed to a great extent.Our great sofi saint and luminary -Hazrat Sheikh Noor u Din Wali (RA) has aptly remarked “An Pooshi Teli yel wan pooshi” means our agricultural produce is subservient to forests. Apart from this plundering, our flood channels, rivers and nallahs are also being disturbed of their natural flow and run. The unscrupulous elements made made structures on the banks of water bodies as a result the natural course of flow got strangulated. We do witness how sand mafia is extorting these natural water body resources at the cost of their natural equilibrium. Trucks, tippers, tractors are seen ferrying the construction material from the river channels and nallahas. The excavations in rivers and nallahs make the embankments prone to cracks and collapse. In 2014 we witnessed devastating floods which were punitive in backlash of teasing with nature. Had the natural water channels and catchment areas not been occupied the devastation would have been controlled to a great extent. It’s high time for the concerned not to allow the loot of our natural resources. The laws meant for the protection of our environment must be implemented in letter and spirit. Those indulged in plundering our resources must be dealt with iron fist.
(The author is teacher by profession. Views are his own)
