Unscrupulous elements uproot saplings in Chaklala Cantt

Residents demand action against those involved in taking them out

RAWALPINDI:

Unidentified elements uprooted newly planted saplings in Chaklala Cantonment. Residents of Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) demanded of the authorities concerned to take an action against those who were involved in uprooting the saplings planted along Tufail Road.

After a myriad of efforts, CCB authorities, on the persistent demand of nature loving residents of the area, planted a dozen saplings on Tufail Road which were uprooted the very next day by few scrupulous elements, said Suleman Hidayat an area resident, who avidly pursued the authorities to ensure plantation.

Hidayat said the CCB staff kept a watch on the first day and the guards along the road side flats had been asked to keep a lookout that the new plants were not damaged. “One is flabbergasted to learn that some unknown people uprooted the new plantations on the very next day. While the government is actively pursuing clean and green Pakistan, it is sad to learn that a noble endeavour has been wasted,” he regretted.

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Another area resident, Uzma Pasha, also expressed her disappointment on the matter and said the area was already lacking green cover because of increasing urbanisation sprawl in the country.

“These saplings would have been a source of some relief after growing into full trees. But, some ill-minded individuals have taken out the saplings, which is unforgivable,” she added.

When contacted, the CCB official presented their brief version on the matter. He said the board has the responsibility to plant and water the saplings in the region.

However, it did not have a tremendous force of guards to deploy single individual on each sapling to protect it, he said, adding, it was the public responsibility to take ownership of the plantation which was carried out with taxpayers’ money.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2021.