CHARSADDA: Due to lack of proper monitoring and timely watering, hundred of trees in Charsadda affected with dry atmosphere which is telling a disappointing story for provincial agriculture department and wide gap between the official claims and the ground realities.
This project, which started under the shadow of the loud claims of planting one billion trees, had brought the promise of a green revolution in Charsadda, but today the situation is that all the efforts made at the district level seem to be going in vain. The grand ceremonies that were organized at the beginning of the project, in which government resources were used lavishly and the scenes of tree plantation presented in front of the media cameras, were actually limited to just a photo session and show. Millions of rupees were spent on organizing and advertising these ceremonies, but these expenses could not bring any positive results to this land.
The fact is that after planting the trees, no solid and sustainable mechanism was formed for their maintenance and irrigation. Most of the plants, which were planted with great hopes, have succumbed to drought due to lack of proper care, lack of water supply and negligence. Today, if one visits the entire district, instead of dense shady trees, one sees only dry branches and barren land, which is a silent witness to the failure of this project.
This is not just a waste of plants but a burden on the national exchequer that has severely damaged the confidence of the public. Funds worth lakhs of rupees that were allocated for environmental improvement and a green Pakistan have simply become the prey of administrative negligence and mismanagement, causing irreparable damage to the exchequer.
The lack of transparency in this entire process reflects that there was no seriousness in planning the project but it was taken as a mere symbolic act. This public grievance has now become a reality that this entire drama in the name of tree plantation has only led to a waste of resources. Today, when the people of Charsadda look around them, they do not see the fulfillment of the dream of a billion trees anywhere, but on the contrary, they see clear signs of wastage of government funds.
This situation demands that the corruption, negligence and failure in this project be brought to justice and those responsible be held accountable so that the nation’s money can be saved from being wasted in the name of such projects in the future. This project is like a green dream that has died before it could become a reality, leaving behind only financial losses and environmental disappointment.
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