AS the relevant authorities fail to supply natural gas to Sangrar union council (UC) in Sukkur district, the residents are compelled to cut down trees to meet their demands. Before the recent rains and floods wrecked havoc, families used to stock a few trollies of cotton-crop sticks as wood for winter and for cooking food. Now, when the cotton crops have been destroyed, people have resorted to chop down trees to have enough wood to keep the kitchen fire burning.

Consequently, deforestation is rapidly increasing in Sindh’s flood-affected rural areas. The entire vegetation in these places is already at risk due to rains and floods. While the government has little control over rains, it can ensure adequate supply of natural gas to the affected areas to minimise deforestation.

Besides, it will also save billions of rupees on initiatives like ‘billion tree tsunami’ and such other green projects for plantation. I am sure the authorities can do this much

A. Qayoom Mangrio
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2022