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| Trees on the Red Cross premises in Darjeeling were being cut and the planks from these trees were being loaded into a pick up vans |
The incident have raised the serious question of the very existence of the most prominent NGO which is housed at the same Red Cross building where it took place, the Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection [FOSEP], which claims to champion the cause of Environmental Conservation in the region.
When FOSEP had nothing to say or do when the trees were being chopped down right under their nose, the concerned and responsible citizens of Darjeeling and Let’s Green Darjeeling(N.G.O.) with the help of social media (The Darjeeling Chronicle) have saved the day.
It all started when TheDC published a post [ Details : http://on.fb.me/1Of6qTC ] on 14th July saying “Some people have been cutting trees in the Red Cross premises for the past few days… and it’s two more trees out of the town landscape …” and raised the questions like Who gave the permission to CUT DOWN these trees?? Why is FOSEP quiet?? Why are none of the NGOs or Civil Society members concerned?.
When the report led Ms. Sumitra Tamang, a member of the Let’s Green Darjeeling initiative to step in Mr. Prem Moktan from Red Cross had the reason for falling those trees, “these will cause landslides or damage homes in the neighbourhood.” Mr. Prem Moktan allegedly told her that, their plan is to cut down all the trees below Red Cross building, and plant around some Rhododendron sapling.
Following the report from The Darjeeling Chronicle, Darjeeling Sub-Divisional Land Reforms Officer confirmed that he had not given any permission. He then went to visit the Red Cross Premises and after inspecting the area found that Red Cross did not have any permission from anywhere to cut those trees. Finally he filed a complaint against Red Cross authorities for felling the trees without any permission.
With inputs from The Darjeeling Chronicle
