By Zakir Hassnain

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN), a non- governmental organization (NGO), on Sunday protested against cutting of trees by Frontier Highway Authority (FHA) for the proposed expansion of Warsak Road demanding an inquiry into the project, as centuries old trees were not only a heritage, but also a great help in reducing pollution.

It said government officials had given unsatisfactory explanations to justify this ill-advised project. “One source says the chief minister has approved the road expansion project. Another says the provincial assembly speaker has ordered the widening of the road while others say numerous schools on Warsak Road have pushed the government due to the extreme traffic congestion during rush hours,” SCN spokesman Dr Adil Zareef told Daily Times.

Dr Adil said as usual a senseless road expansion project at the expense of precious trees, which helped reduce air and noise pollution and cool intense summer heat, had been designed without looking into its long-term ill effects.

“The government has not yet allocated any funds for the project so why they are in a hurry and felling costly trees, mainly Sheeshum trees, which are rare and our heritage,” said Adil, SCN executive member.

He was of the view that timber mafia was behind this exercise adding that the provincial assembly speaker had no authority to issue a directive in this regard.

Regarding pressure on the government by schools located on Warsak Road, he said a great heritage could not be sacrificed at the cost of schools.

Dr Adil said effective traffic laws, ban on unauthorized vehicles, alternative routes during rush hours and a mass transit system, either overhead railway service or underground subways like in other developed countries, was the only solution to smooth the flow of traffic.

He said Warsak Road widening project was a futile exercise that would destroy hundreds of old green trees. “We demand that the government stop such mindless projects jeopardizing health of people,” he said.

Maureen Lines of Frontier Heritage Trust (FHT) told Daily Times she had not been to the site but learnt of cutting of trees on Warsak Road through newspaper reports. “If the reports are true, I condemn this criminal exercise,” she added.

“Cutting of trees is a crime,” said Ms Lines. She said cutting of trees was no solution to traffic congestion. “We need a mass transit system in the city to get rid of traffic chaos,” said Ms Lines.

dailytimes.com.pk