We are part of solution for nature

Manish Gajbhiye

Aurangabad, May 21:

In the recent times, several ecological changes have been

experienced on the earth. The ecological cycle is changing due to the global

warming. The invisible microbes are attacking human lives. The

environmentalists have opined that it is the effect of the destruction of the

bio-diversity and man is solely responsible for it. On the occasion of the

International Bio-diversity Day on May 22, it is important that we should

consider our role in the preservation of the earth and consider that “we are

part of the solution for nature”, which is also the theme of the day.

Man has destroyed forest for his benefit but has not opted

for alternatives for huge deforestation. Highways are being constructed for which

large area of forest land is being used. Presently, Four major highways are

going along with the Aurangabad city including Samruddhi, Dhule – Solapur Highway,

Aurangabad – Jalgaon and Aurangabad – Paithan. As per the guidelines, it is

mandatory to utilized one percent amount of the total cost of the highway on

restoring the destructed trees. However, the there are no such measures taken

around the city either to plant new trees or to translocate, the

environmentalists alleged.

Environmentalist, Dr Kishor Pathak said that approximately

3.25 lakh trees have been cut, 25 hillocks destroyed while 4 mountains have

been bored for the construction of the highways. These have destroyed the

natural habitants of the animals, birds, insects, microbes, reptiles and other

creatures. Last year, 36 pythons were rescued which had lost their natural

habitat. Similarly, the contaminated water input from the drainage and

companies at the Salim Ali Lake and Sukhna Rivers has endangered the aquatic

biodiversity. Several species of water plants, algies, fishes, migratory birds,

snakes, spiders, insects, moths and others have been endangered due to it, he

claimed.

Recently, the incidents of forest fires occurred in the

district. The forests areas at Gautala, Patnadevi, Ajanta, Sarola, Mhaismal,

Soyegaon, Satara, Deolai Mountains, University area caught fire in the past few

months.

Divisional Forest Officer, Wild Life Division, Aurangabad, V

N Satpute said that mostly the forest fires are not natural but are man-made.

People going for the call of the nature in the forests and leaving the bidies

and cigarettes lighten or by the sparkle of the vehicles. Hence, the fire

incidents mostly occur in the forests near the villages or near highways and

dense forest areas are not affected by it. The grass in the rocky area burn

quickly during summer. However, there have been no reports of the lost of

animals in these fire incidents, he said.