During the past few years, huge healthy trees experienced leveling to pavement, right on the old airport Shah Khalid Colony Service Road, triggering a controversy that refuses to die.
“A war of words through email has been unleashed between the anguished residents of the Service Road and the city’s management. While the residents are convinced that city’s management staffers were involved in getting the trees chopped, city’s management official, in her email, out rightly rejected the accusation,” says Kamal Rizvi.
“We have absolutely nothing to do with this act of felling in fact; it had caught us by surprise. We are an extremely responsible organization and would never even contemplate such acts,” says Ejaz Ali, an official.
“Pointing out that the city’s management is a socially responsible organization and it would not do such things just to gain benefit. We have strong terms of engagement with city residents and there have been umpteen cases when we have lost business but have not compromised on our values,” adds Ejaz.
“It cannot be that healthy trees were felled without intending to benefit someone. It could be some individual’s whimsical act, who must be associated with the city’s management, as it is an organization, which cannot absolve itself of responsibility. We want them to initiate an inquiry,” says Shabbir, a resident of Gulzar-e-Quaid.
“If the city’s management believed in protecting greenery, why didn’t they protect the trees? Why they could not stop this from happening? If someone cuts the trees in front of their office, will they still take it lying down, and wash their hands off the whole issue,” says Zia Hussain, who was skeptical about the position of city’s management.
“Does it mean that the people who are criticizing the city’s management have never cut a tree? Many of them have been responsible for felling trees and have contributed to their neighbors’ discomfort,” says Mishaal Hussain, another resident.
“I suggest organizing a joint ‘Make Rawalpindi Green’ initiative to promote environmental awareness. Just imagine 2000 people across the city planting 20000 saplings in one day! We would love to participate because we are keenly looking at making our surroundings completely environment-friendly,” says Azmat Ali.
“Someone in the city’s management may be responsible for this action. Nevertheless, what about the RWMC? It could not have happened without their collusion. The officials who permitted this must receive punishment. Unless these officials get some jail term and are given compensation for causing harm to the environment, the situation will never improve. By some calculations, a tree contributes a great deal of value to the environment during its lifetime,” says Rukhsana Zaidi.
Manzar Naqvi says, “Remnants of several of the hacked trees are still there. However, residents remain unconvinced and are now demanding an internal inquiry to investigate the incident.”