Green lungs

Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Treenomics vs Babudom” (June 26). The Delhi High Court’s stay on felling trees in the capital came as a huge relief not just for Delhiites but for all friends on the Earth. We applaud Delhi’s children for lending voice to the voiceless trees with the placards ‘Help me’ and ‘Save me’. Hugging the trees symbolises the urge to cling on to life.

The question is whether we should preserve Delhi’s green patches or convert the city into a ‘concrete jungle’ and a ‘gas chamber’. Delhi, already in the news for high pollution levels, simply cannot countenance the cutting down of trees.

The importance of trees, rightly called the ‘green lungs’ for ecology and human survival cannot be overemphasised. The tangible and intangible benefits of trees are so well-known. And yet, the Government dares to commit the folly of chopping down trees for building residential complexes for babus and VIPs. Housing or re-development projects upset the city’s ecological balance.

The living quarters for the bureaucrats can be built on the treeless outskirts of Delhi. The babus may be privileged and influential, but they cannot insist on houses in the heart of the city at the cost of tress that sustain our lives. It is a pity that the convenience and comfort of Central Government employees and VIPs is allowed to override environmental concerns.

The sad part is that most of our netas are environment-illiterate and are under the illusion that humans are apart from and not a part of nature. Development that requires deforestation has to be disregarded and discarded as dubious. It is of paramount importance that caring for trees takes a deep root in our culture.