Daily Times

LARKANA: The Sindh Forest Department failed to implement target of tree plantation of 7.10 million trees in the province during spring season, which was announced during February by the chief conservator in Larkana for the present year.

Daily Times has learnt that around three million trees were targeted in Larkana division but forest department could not carry out tree plantation drive after lapse of budget, despite thousands old trees were chopped off by the district administration on the pretext of new Larkana Development Plan (LDP) with a cost of Rs 750 million for constructing road network.

Sources said that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and forest department have turned their eyes and are helpless to preserve trees on roadside. There is no tree plantation at National Highway and Indus Highway roads from Larkana to Lakhi, Larkana Airport Road to Moen-Jo-Daro, Larkana to Qamber and Shahdadkot Road, Larkana to Khairpur Bridge and Razidero and other rice canal and Dadu locations, sources added.

It is learnt that following the directives of deputy commissioner of Larkana for the department to cut down decades old thousands trees on both sides of rice canal from new bus terminal to circular road comprising on six to seven kilometres at Ghar wah regulator, Aabro Minor and other areas without seeking permission of SEPA and also did not followed forest rules.

According to district administration of Larkana, which had assigned the task to district roads department, provincial highway department and district building department of Larkana to execute work on Larkana Development Plan with a cost of Rs 750 million schemes for the construction of road network, widening of existing roads on both banks of rice canal and establishment of green belts.

It is pertinent to mention here that during the first Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government tenure, under the directives of former president Asif Ali Zardari, Rs 53.601 million was allocated for Neem Tree Plantation (NTP) Scheme for Larkana district, but failed due to corruption.

The authorities concerned failed to implement the orders of former president of Pakistan whereas the roads from Larkana to Naudero, Garhi Khuda Bux to Bunguldero, Badah Dokri, Rice Canal sides, Dadu Canal, Behman plot, Larkana to Dokri and other sites are also ruined.

The claim for three million tree plantation in Larkana division once again failed like earlier schemes of green and clean Larkana beautification scheme, establishment of parks and Rice Canal belt beautification, Neem tree plantation and other schemes.

Daily Times learnt that the PPP government in 2008-2009 with cost of Rs 22 billion for development of roads developed sewerage system and various internal road network in city among Larkana Mohenjo Daro Road, Larkana-Khairpur Bridge, Larkana-Naudero Road, Lakhi Road, Larkana Kamber Shahdadkot Road and Larkana-Rashid Wagan Road for which thousands of old trees were also removed.

A ruthless slaughtering of trees since 2008 to 2016 was observed by the civil society and citizens but the Sindh Forest Department and Sindh Environmental Protection Agency remained calm spectator and no steps were taken to preserve forests and trees.

Larkana Social Forest Department Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Arshad Haider Kamario said that there is no development for tree plantation by the department and he is unaware about the scheme and cutting down of trees in Larkana division.

He said due to environmental changes in Larkana, which recorded maximum at 53 Celsius due to deforestation and removal of trees, which is posing threat to the environment. He further said the home district of Zulifqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto was green and clean but now due to the destructions of gardens, removal of trees both sides of roads after so called development and occupying both banks of Rice Canal, Dadu Canal and other locations coupled with heap of garbage caused environmental problems. Daily Times tried to contact Larkana Deputy Commissioner Larkana Javed Ali Jagirani and other officials concerned for their stance on the issue but no response was made.