Mangrove Masacre
Nature to yet again be chosen over Human civilisation! But at what cost?
This will not be the first time, nor unfortunately the last we hear that infrastructure and so called “human civilisation” will take precedence over nature. So what is all the noise about? Well India’s first high-speed rail line between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will claim the lives of more than 54,000 Mangrove Trees.
You may be thinking this is a small price to pay for this type of development especially if we Indians are to be taken serious in the developed World. We at KDOP feel its a HUGE price to pay for such a mediocre advancement especially if we take the state of water levels in areas such as Chennai into consideration. The situation is already grave and policy makers are still to take the matter of a significant water crisis seriously! Will it really take a “day zero” in New Delhi to make the Government see this in a different light?
What we seem to be missing is that Mother Nature does not look at our status, colour or creed when lands turn barren, ground water is depleted and rainfall is at its lowest levels. Drinking water will become an expensive commodity if we do not take immediate steps to curtail our so called development!
The Maharashtra state government needs to think carefully about what the real implications are of this action to destroy such a rich, biodiverse and water crucial region will be. May be a short stay in Chennai to experience the effects of having such little water availability would be a good lesson for anyone thinking about destroying more nature for the sake of “development”!
Replying to a question raised by Shiv Sena legislator Maneesha Kayande in the Maharashtra State Legislative Council, Transport Minister, Diwakar Raote, said:
“There will be no chopping of trees and there will be no threat of flooding to some parts of Navi Mumbai. The pillars (of the project) will be high and hence will not damage the environment much.”
He also said that the government is in talks with locals who will be affected by the project and will give them appropriate compensation.
These comments literally had us at KDOP in tears from laughing so much! Since when are we humans in control of Mother Nature? No threat of flooding? Not much damage to the environment? Who are we kidding? Certainly NOT Mother Nature! The Earth is crying and yet we turn a blind eye for our selfish needs. But surely this cannot go on for much longer!
At KDOP, Nature is important to us whether it be the mint farms in Punjab or the Rainforests of the Amazon. Why? Simply because Mother Nature has given us so much and the entire Eco-system is interlinked. Floods in one region of the world are linked to droughts in another. This is the fundamental problem with human development in that our selfishness causes destruction beyond repair that impacts all near and far.
We thought we would share some information about Mangroves with you which has been taken from conservation.org. conservation.org is a brilliant website for all things related to conservation and more. Please check it out!
Meanwhile more about mangroves…
What are mangroves?
Mangroves are tropical trees that thrive in conditions most timber could never tolerate — salty, coastal waters, and the interminable ebb and flow of the tide. With the ability to store vast amounts of carbon, mangrove forests are key weapons in the fight against climate change, but they are under threat worldwide. By protecting mangroves, we can help protect the future of our planet.
Mangroves have (carbon) hoarding issues.
Blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, sea grasses, and salt marshes) can be up to 10 times more efficient than terrestrial ecosystems at absorbing and storing carbon long term, making them a critical solution in the fight against climate change.
Mangroves can help keep people safe.
Mangrove forests — and the thick, impenetrable tangle their above- and below-water roots create — are vital to shoreline communities as natural buffers against storm surges, an increasing threat in a changing global climate with rising sea levels.
There’s trouble in Myanmar.
Mangroves are under threat nearly everywhere, but the problem is particularly acute in Myanmar, where the rate of deforestation is four times the global average.
It’s better to revitalize than replant.
Mangroves’ dense root systems inhibit the flow of tidal water and encourage the deposition of nutrient-rich sediments. But once lost, mangroves are very difficult to replant due to shifts in the very sediments the roots helped keep in place.
Reports suggest that the state government has promised to plant five times the trees that will be cut for the project. It is prudent to realise that promises can be made by us all but the destruction cannot be reversed.
Mangroves have (carbon) hoarding issue
In conclusion, its time to take action against projects that destroy Nature and leave regions on the brink of having no water. We must remember that the issues Chennai is having now will sooner or later extend to affect all of India and the World. Let us work together, think about each other, stop our selfish ways and think about the future. We leave you with one last question…
What use will a high-speed train be if people in the region do not have enough water to survive?
Our actions and plans all seem rather illogical when we ask this question of ourselves!
Written by
Satinder Singh
KDOP
