The rhododendron forest of Singalila National Park in the Darjeeling
hills is being depleted at an alarming level, courtesy the lackadaisical
approach of the West Bengal Forest Department and Singalila National
Park management.
The Darjeeling-based Federation of Society for Environmental
Protection, better known as Fosep, had undertaken a survey called
“Rhododendron Status in Singalila National Park” in April 2019.
Bharat Prakash Rai, secretary, Fosep, said, “The number of
rhododendrons (a certain type of plant, which helps bind the soil
together) in Singalila National Park is dwindling, owing to rampant
felling of trees by hoteliers and people residing on the Indo-Nepal
border for the purpose of making firewood. Nearly 60 per cent of
rhododendron cover has been lost in the national park.”
He also said that his organisation has been visiting the national park since 2000 to assess the situation.
“The state forest department and the national park authorities have
not made any attempts to do away with the menace; nor have they joined
hands with our organisation for initiating an afforestation drive.
Cattle-grazing is quite rampant in the national park and the forest
nursery lies neglected, yet the state forest department does nothing.
With the depletion of rhododendron forest in the national park gaining
ground, there is frequent soil erosion, leading to loss of green
habitats and landslides.”
While discussing measures to overcome these problems, Rai said,
“Close monitoring of the Indo-Nepal border is the need of the hour. A
little bit of hand-holding is essential to save the rhododendron cover
of the national park. If this is not done, the day is not far when the
park will face bleak days.” He also said that in addition to
rhododendron depletion, trees like silver fir were being axed to drive
real-estate forward.
The environment affects everybody as all of us reside in it and are a
part of it. Hence, proper care of the national park needs to be taken.
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