RHD felling trees for 'public safety'

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has sold 17 large old trees on the dividers of Greater Road in Rajshahi  city at a throwaway price without any necessary assessment or approval.

According to the RHD officials, the decision was taken for “public safety” and a beautification project of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC).

All the trees including a raj karai (chambol), mahogany, three karai, and rain trees on the road dividers from C&B to Gourhanga intersections were sold to one Babul Hossain in an open tender at around Tk 96,000, said Polash Sarker, executive officer of RHD Arboriculture.

But an official of the forest department, seeking anonymity, said trees like raj karai, karai and rain trees should sell at Tk 50,000 to Tk 1 lakh each. He said he visited the area where the trees were being felled on Tuesday as per directives of his seniors and have witnessed felling of at least five trees.

Labourers employed by the buyer has already cut down 13 trees till Saturday and took away the logs, witnesses said. Some of the fences on the dividers were damaged while traffic movement was badly affected due to the activity, they added.

“Those trees enhanced the beauty of the Greater Road for years. Not to mention, felling of trees leave a bad impact on the environment,” said Tanmay Sannyal, a green activist.

The Forest Product Transit (control) rules of 2011 made it mandatory for any government authorities to take permission from the forest department before felling trees, said Imran Ahmed, divisional forest officer of Rajshahi.

Also, they have to get permission for transporting the logs and an assessment of the selling price, he added. “RHD did not bother to take permission. They claimed that they have sole authority over the forest goods on their lands,” he said.

But, Polash Sarker, executive officer of RHD Arboriculture, said, “We don't need permission as the department preserves the rights on its trees.” Also, the open auction ensured fair price for the trees.

He said RCC requested them to “remove the trees to ensure public safety” after a man was killed last year due to uprooting of a tree during a storm.

Contacted, Nizam-ul-Azim, RCC's mayor-in-charge, refuted Polash's claim. “I don't know when or how they (RHD) got the request. It did not occur during my tenure,” he said.

The mayor, however, said RCC has a plan to plant palm trees on the dividers under its “Zero Soil” project. Under the project, all of the city's soils will be covered with greenery, he added.

Though in 2015, RCC had cut down several trees on the road dividers.

Despite repeated attempts, The Daily Star could not reach Babul Hossain, the buyer of the trees, for his comment.