P. K. DATTA
Naturalist
Since times immemorial Generation is a continuous process. Successive generations have lived on this very earth enjoying Mother Nature. However, over the periods generations are increasing in numbers whereas all other natural resources are decreasing. It is estimated that the number of houses existing on date may have grown more than the population of the country.
This may sound funny. Yet the count is growing. Realise this by way of messages received on your Mobile from property developers offering affordable options to put your hard earned money in their projects. All this at what cost ?
Recall your visit to some other city a few years back ! On both sides of the road there used to be lush green crops making one feel to be a proud Indian.
The same journey is now replete with mega housing projects of different builders shrinking the green fields from your vision. The so-called greens have relegated to the backwards and if this continues the crops will be grown in factories and laboratories. Strangely however despite this shrinkage in the cultivable land the quantum growth in respective crops is increasing. Thanks to research and development in agriculture or is it a short lived myth which will explode with time. Besides the augmentation of speciality and super speciality hospitals and the ever increasing number of patients availing these facilities cannot be overlooked in the guise of changing life styles alone, the above factors are equally responsible attributes.
Gone are the days when people used to gather around Doodh-Jalebi karahis at halwai shops after dinner yet more than same crowd is available at chemist shops around the same time replacing Doodh-Jalebi with variety of medicines to be consumed for survival essentially.
On a physical appraisal of the Green in Dwarka the position is comfortable as regards the quantum is concerned. However the qualitative scale of the same is alarming. Literally every second or third tree is smitten by termite some even up to seven or eight feet of its trunk causing it to be torn off centrally or falling off due to dust storms or heavy rains. Termite is so rampant and can be seen on the pavement stones, floors and walls of any buildings. The rate of fall or depletion of such trees has to be arrested by way of planting one tree each between two existing trees and this has to be a continuous process over the next few years.
Mortality rate of flowery trees is further higher due to termite and brackish water. The experience is rather surprising. Out of a large number of trees of different varieties planted in Ispatika Apartments, most of them wilted after flourishing initially and died whereas a few of them survived facing the similar hardships. However, not all is lost as has been the experience of planting a Floss Silk Tree for a consecutive fourth time over the last six years as the earlier one’s did not go beyond a year or so. Perseverance paid rewards this time as the pit was dug for the same up to six feet deep and allowed to gain sunshine for nearly three months. Initially this also started drying up but probably one trick of planting another variety of flowery tree next to it was adopted after reading Social Life of Plants narrating the jealousy factors in trees and plants by the author Sukanya Dutta.
Another important factor is the ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads. Despite the clean and green advantage availed due to introduction of CNG, the same will be frittered away by ever increasing shrinking “roads-to- vehicles ratio” which is evident by increase in the road rage cases. While enjoying your air-conditioned ride in your car or DTC bus, have you ever thought who bears the hot air, it is these very trees which silently and smilingly consume the same for you.
How so much Green we may have would always be much too less and generations may wonder and decide “How much Green do we Need” ?
