Letters to the EDITOR: Importance of Tree Plantation

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Importance of tree plantation

I am writing to express my deep concern about the ongoing depletion of forests, primarily driven by the development strategies of our government. The relentless pursuit of infrastructure expansion and urbanization has led to significant deforestation, posing severe threats to our environment.

Despite various afforestation programmes initiated over the years, these efforts often fall short due to poor planning and execution. Many such programmes are plagued by corruption, lack of accountability, and inadequate maintenance of the newly planted saplings. This highlights the need for a more robust and transparent approach to tree plantation initiatives.

It is imperative that the government adopts a more proactive stance by involving academic institutions in plantation programs. Schools, colleges, and universities can play a pivotal role in fostering environmental awareness and responsibility among young citizens. Engaging students in tree planting activities not only helps in increasing green cover but also instills a sense of environmental stewardship from an early age.

Moreover, it is the responsibility of every citizen to contribute to saving our environment. Planting trees in our neighbourhoods, participating in community green initiatives, and advocating for greener policies are steps we can all take. Collective action is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. Therefore, through your esteemed daily, I would urge everyone to protect our environment by planting more trees. While development is essential, it must not come at the cost of our environment. Planting trees is a vital solution, but it requires coordinated efforts from the government, educational institutions, and citizens alike.

Jugasmita Das,

Gauhati University

Indecent behaviour on city buses

I am writing to express my deep concern about the growing issue of indecent behaviour on city buses in Guwahati. This disturbing trend has made travelling uncomfortable and even terrifying for many, especially women and children. Because of these incidents, women are not safe, and they feel fear about travelling by bus. These issues and incidents are growing day by day in Guwahati and as well in every state of India. We need to take some actions to stop this kind of incident. To stop and solve these issues and incidents, we need to install CCTV cameras in city buses as well as in every public transportation service to monitor and identify offenders. We need to pass strict laws, ensure enforcement, and implement harsh penalties for those found guilty of such acts. Also, launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the severity of such actions and collaborate with transportation authorities and work with bus service providers such as ASTC to ensure a safe and secure travel environment. To stop the issue of sexual misconduct on city buses, I request the authorities take necessary steps to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of all citizens.

Rahul Kumar Thakur

Pragjyotish college 

Decline in soil fertility

I would like to draw the attention of farmers, policy makers, and the general public through your esteemed newspaper column to the worrying issue of declining soil fertility due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers in our agricultural practices. India, being an agrarian economy, is heavily dependent on its land for food production. But the over-reliance on chemical fertilizers in the quest for higher crop yields has done more harm than good. Although these fertilizers boost productivity in the short term, the long-term effects are devastating. These disrupt the natural balance of nutrients in the soil, kill beneficial microorganisms, and degrade soil structure. According to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, soil erosion affects 30% of India’s land, which is a huge threat to agriculture. The consequences of this trend are far-reaching. Declining soil fertility not only reduces agricultural production but also increases dependence on outside inputs, thus increasing farming costs. Moreover, these chemicals often accumulate in water bodies, contaminating water and harming both human health and the environment.

Instead of relying on chemical fertilizers, we should prioritize the use of natural fertilizers, as they are highly beneficial for the environment. Natural fertilizers, such as compost, manure, and organic waste, enrich the soil with essential nutrients without harming the ecosystem. Unlike chemical fertilizers, they have no adverse effects on the health of animals, plants, or humans. Moreover, natural fertilizers support sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility and structure over time. Their eco-friendly nature helps reduce pollution, preserve biodiversity, and maintain a balanced environment, making them a better alternative.

Now is the time to take our measures to avoid this loss. Government support in the form of subsidies for organic products and stricter regulations on the use of chemical fertilizers are also necessary steps. I urge the concerned authorities and the public to prioritize this issue and take immediate action to secure our agricultural future.

Dipankar Deka,

Gauhati University

 Groundwater depletion: Cause of serious concern

The news headline, 'Groundwater declines by 800 crore cubic metres in 10 years in Assam,' published in your esteemed daily on November 30, has drawn our sharp attention. The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, while disclosing this alarming data in the Parliament, stated that Assam had 2800 crore cubic metres of extractable groundwater resources in 2013, which declined to 2000 crore cubic metres in 2023. The report further said that the entire Northeast region has also lost extractable groundwater resources from 4000 crore cubic metres in 2013 to 2,900 crore cubic metres in 2023.The state capital, Guwahati, is grappling with an acute shortage of groundwater as the city's groundwater extraction level has reached the semi-critical stage. The disquieting situation has its roots in the rapid urbanization and population growth in the city that resulted in the rampant extraction of groundwater, and its use within the city is also beyond its metropolitan limits.

Now, the question is why the authorities have all along been turning a blind eye to the illegal extraction of groundwater for years. Despite the mighty Brahmaputra flowing right through the city, the existing water supply system is hardly catering to a few thousand families, that too in the most erratic manner.Water consumption in the city and other urban areas in the state has gone up manifold due to the mushrooming growth of apartments, commercial, and industrial activities. Surprisingly, there are no judicious curbs on groundwater extraction across the state.

Moreover, commercially extracted groundwater was supplied to private water suppliers without proper treatment, making it a grave health hazard. The unsustainable extraction has been a natural corollary as the use of groundwater has also increased in recent decades. The time has now come for the authorities to regularly assess groundwater tables and adopt both traditional and innovative methods for replenishing groundwater. Unless steps like penalties and crackdowns on illegal extraction of groundwater are initiated, there is no other way to ease the situation. The central government's recently launched portal 'Bhu Neer' seems to be effective in bringing transparency to groundwater water withdrawal permits across the country.

There is also a need for steps for ensuring both natural and artificial recharge of groundwater through water conservation schemes. The importance of a master plan for providing general guidance regarding the availability of surplus source water for terrain-specific structures cannot be ruled out.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati.

Modern slavery

"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed more if only THEY knew they were slaves." One need not look beyond these thought-provoking words of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman to decipher the evils of slavery. Human trafficking, bonded labour and forced marriages, domestic work, construction activities, manufacturing units, agricultural activities, and sexual exploitation fall into the "domain" of forced labour. Nothing can exemplify modern slavery better than child labour. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has identified about twenty-five million men and women as victims of modern slavery.

The emphatic need for a comprehensive plan to tackle forced labour has dawned on all stakeholders. In 2014, the General Conference of the ILO asked governments to display a sense of urgency to prevent and eliminate forced labour. The assembly called for stringent penalties for offenders who force the vulnerable to modern forms of slavery. The ILO has specially targeted migrant workers who are easily lured because of their poor understanding of local language and tradition. Compensation, rehabilitation, and education have also been extensively discussed by the ILO. American thinker Frederick Douglass was a crusader who fought for literacy as a way to stem slavery. Douglass's famous quote, "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave," rings in one's memory. It should be noted that "International Day for the Abolition of Slavery" is observed on December 2.

Dr Ganapathi  Bhat

(gbhat13@gmail.com)