KOLKATA: Even as the country witnessess myriad political protests, an unrest of a different kind is unfolding in Alipurduar.
As the word of cutting down of a tree spread in Shamuktala village of north Bengal, people gathered protest the felling of the Krishnachura tree, the blossoms of which adorns the New Udayan School’s compound.
The head teacher along with the governing body members of the school decided to cut and sell the, prompting villagers to come together and start an agitation in protest the move. The demonstrating villagers, who have informed the state Forest Minister of the matter, were joined by people from other adjoining districts as well. The villagers said that they had nurtured the Krishnachura, known as Gul Mohur elsewhere in the country, like their own child. Several students and teachers of the school too are opposed to the move and have great affection for the tree.
Ranjan Biswas said, “My grandfather donated the land for this school. I will never permit the felling of this tree.” “We have asked school authorities to refrain from cutting the tree because of such a popular movement,” Buxa Range Officer said. However, school principal Ajoy Debnath’s says the tree has grown too big and poses the risk of falling onto students. “That is why we had decided to uproot it. As such, we called for a tender and decided to give it away for `4,000.”
State Forest Minister Binoy Burman too was moved by such an agitation. He said, “Such a positive agitation should be supported. I will take steps to ensure that the tree is not cut.”
But housewives such as Anupama Majumdar and Shampa Biswassay, “We will never let it be cut just because some men want money.”