Deodar felling in focus after Uttarakhand tragedy

DECADES of indiscriminate felling of Deodar trees may have greatly aggravated the devastation unleashed by the August 5 flashflood in Dharali, Uttarkashi, scientists and locals believe.

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

DECADES of indiscriminate felling of Deodar trees may have greatly aggravated the devastation unleashed by the August 5 flashflood in Dharali, Uttarkashi, scientists and locals believe. While central and state government agencies have launched intensive probes into the catastrophic rain-induced tragedy, a consensus is emerging that extensive Deodar loss directly augmented the disaster's ferocity.

Scientists unequivocally say had Dharali retained its historical Deodar forest cover, the impact of this calamity would have been significantly reduced, if not negligible.

Deodar trees possess a unique and key characteristic: their dense, intricate root systems are vital for binding soil, preventing erosion, and effectively impeding the downward flow of debris and water during torrential rains or landslides.