Hooligans chopped hundreds of trees in 20 years watershed project.

Chopped trees by Hooligans in Dasilnaickanoor

People of Kulitalai Taluk in Karur District in Tamilnadu express their anguish on brutal hooligans who have chopped hundreds of trees in Dasilnaickanoor watershed in Tamilnadu, a project initiated by local NGO two decades back. The grown up trees in several hectares of land were looted by a few thugs of this region and it is alleged that these thugs the extended arms of wood merchants of this region of Dasilnaickanoor. These gangsters chopped and shifted trucks loads of trees to unknown places. The innocent denotified tribal community members these villages expressed shock and anger about the misdeed of these wood steeling thieves. Two decades back this area looked barren, with contour bunding, check dam construction and conjunctive of water. gully plugging and various water and soil conservation measures, thousands of trees have been grown in these barren land and converted the entire land as great forest. The irrigation wells dug in the lower part of the watershed has water recharge from the tree planted watershed and the agriculture operations were going on well even in drought seasons. The villagers are well aware that it is not good to cut down trees because the sun gives oxygen to the trees then we get the oxygen from the trees and without them we would die. The NGO team met the villagers and educated them, “.Wood cutting breaks the circle of life. Trees provide fog drip water, shade, bio-material, soil holding root systems. All of these are essential for a healthy human life. One of the biggest impacts of wood-cutting is the irreparable damage done to the soil. Healthy soil is integral to rebuilding healthy, productive, biodiversity forests; the impacts of tree-felling affects biodiversity far exceed what replanted seedlings trees can repair. Trees renew our air supply by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves. Tree roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water, as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds. Trees provide protection from downward fall of rain, sleet, and hail as well as reduce storm run-off and the possibility of flooding. Tree leaves help trap and remove tiny particles of soot and dust which otherwise damages human lungs”. Village level environmental activist said that Trees are beautiful, they are homes for many birds and their roots help prevent land and mudslides. We depend on the forests for a number of resources, which is why it is so important that we do all we can to conserve the trees and plants that we still have. The environmental activists and Villagers express their shock and anguish on tree felling and decided to locate the thugs and take legal against these hooligans those involved in felling of trees illegally.-Govin