Malappuram: Water fowls died en masse here after tree branches were indiscriminately cut down on the orders of government officials. The latter are likely to face punishment, which can go up to three years in jail, as the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 and Protection of Biodiversity Act 2002 will apply in the case.
Over 120 birds were found dead and their eggs destroyed after branches of several tress were felled abusing a provision that allows felling of trees that are “a threat to life and property.” Officials at the Alamcode village Office and workers who assisted them have been charged as the incident came to light. The incident happened on the premises of the village office located at Changaramkulam.
It is said the branches were lopped on the pretext that the bird droppings were a bother to both the staff at the village office and the public arriving there. The accused now offered the lame defence they had only removed branches that posed a risk to nearby buildings.
The case is significant as government officials themselves violated their statutory responsibility to protect forest and wildlife. The inquiry is headed by the Kalikavu Range Officer and will be heard by the special forest court in Manjeri.
Forest officials as well as the public who came to know about the shocking incident, meanwhile, wondered why the accused did not bother to delay the action that led to the mass death of birds during their reproduction season which stretches from late May to late September, depending on the rain. The deaths could have been avoided if the lopping of the branches was delayed a bit.
.jpg.transform/576x300/image.jpg "Village officials face jail over mass death of birds")
No justification
District Forest Officer (South) V Sajikumar said the argument that the law provides for felling of trees with prior permission does not hold in this case. “To argue that trees had to be cut because noise and excreta of birds were a nuisance is no justification.”
Such bird colonies exist on trees elsewhere too. At Valluvambram, Malappuram, people distressed by bird droppings secured an autorickshaw stand and bus stop by stretching a tarpaulin sheet below the tree instead of felling it.
Village to cities
Small and big water fowls as well as crane are seen normally around paddy fields and water bodies. These native species make their nests on large trees around water bodies and in interior areas. They started migrating to urban areas as large trees now remain only in public places in towns after the destruction of rural environment.
Thalassery model
Local people and forest officials had once joined to protect rare white sea gulls and their babies in Thalassery. The locals wanted to remove their nests when they found them a nuisance, but the forest department persuaded them to keep the nest with incentives and awareness campaign. The locals gradually turned protectors for the birds.
