Common Man On A Mission To Save Trees

Anadish Pal is a prime example of what a citizen should do every time a precious tree is slayed. An inventor by profession, Anadish rose to popularity as an environmentalist in 2008 when he gathered the courage to fight tooth and nail against the girdling of a tree in his locality. Ten years later, he continues to plant trees and raise awareness on the importance of saving trees. As this interview with Namrata Gulati Sapra will reveal, the passionate environmentalist does not mince his words when it comes to issues concerning the environment, particularly trees.

- Anadish Pal

What prompted you to protest against the damage done to a tree in your neighbourhood? What steps did you further take to raise your voice against it? 

The macabre way the peepal tree was damaged and left to die was soul churning. It was hard to understand why anybody would cut up a peepal tree and do all kinds of cutting rings into it and piling metal rods into it to crack it up. We all know that peepal trees are a part of Indian fables and are benignly revered by many of our countrymen. So, I thought I must raise my voice against the damage done to this peepal tree in my locality.

For this, firstly I tried contacting the concerned conservator of forests; he in turn misdirected me to the police, which was not at all necessary. When I realized nothing was working, I tried contacting the local press who were not interested. Some neighbours, though concerned, were too scared of the shenanigans of the rich tree butchers in this case. Thereafter, I received a criminal threat from the tree slayers. In order to safeguard myself and my family, I had to call the police. For the next five years, I had to fight three court cases. I had false complaints lodged against me outside Delhi. I had to defend myself in the high court too. Although cases were lodged against the individuals who cut the tree, nothing came out of it.

What about the law against cutting trees illegally?