For the last few weeks, Kerala has been discussing the eviction of the flat owners of the Maradu apartments in Kochi, but another painful eviction that took place in Palakkad railway station compound went unnoticed.
Broken eggs on the ground, scattered nests, crying nestlings — it was a painful sight for an environment lover. On October 1, a huge Gulmohar tree that stood tall in front of Palakkad Railway station was cut down, rendering many birds homeless.
As it was the egg-laying season of migratory birds, cutting the tree to expand the parking area of the railway station has invited flak from environmentalists. Following an outcry, Valayal range forest officer has filed a case against railway officials and a contractor who cut the tree.
"To cut trees, the railway officials had to take permission from the social forestry department, but they did not do so. As per the rules, during the egg-laying season, trees should not be cut. This act was cruel," Boban Mattumantha, an environmental activist told TNM.
He also alleged that as per the rules, before cutting trees that inhabit migratory birds, social forestry department has to conduct an inspection to make sure that all birds can be rehabilitated to other trees.
"The tree was near the Railway Protection Force's office. For two days, these nestlings were left on the ground, crying. Even the officers of the RPF did not do anything. It was on the third day that we came to know about the issue and informed the Rapid Action Force (of the forest department), who rescued some of the nestlings," Boban said.
He alleged that usually neither Forest Department nor the government is interested in taking action against cutting trees. "Since we showed them the painful video of the nestlings, they filed the case," he said.
Boban said that the tree hosted more than 100 migratory birds. When it was cut, the bigger birds flew away while the nestlings and eggs fell down.
The case was registered under the Kerala Forest Act Schedule IV