This is apropos of Dr Iftikhar Ahmad's letter 'Suitability of neem plant for afforestation' (Sept 7). The writer says he is not in favour of using 'babul' for afforestation in an area where it has already failed.

This is not correct. Babul is an indigenous species of Sindh where it has been flourishing for centuries. The old Gazetteer bears testimony to this.

The writer should go through the documents of the Sindh Forest Department written before partition wherein the British have given a detailed description of fauna and flora of Sindh. Moreover, any notion about the failure of babul plantation cannot be attributed to the environmental factors prevailing in Sindh. If there were any, it was because of lack of annual inundation, proper maintenance and protection. In short, babul is the main species of the province.

Babul can be exploited after eight years at any age. The Balochistan 'mining industry' solely depends on the pit props of babul. In the past, babul timber was used only for constructional purposes, making farming tools and carts. However, with the development of the mining industry in the Quetta-Kalat region, it has become the most important species for use as pit props and mining planks.

Fuel wood Its wood is used as fatuous fuel in rural areas where Sui gas is not available. The people use cow dung as a fuel. Due to the plantation of babul, the village community would use babul firewood and would save cow dung, which is a natural fertilizer, for agriculture.

Tannin Babul bark is obtained mainly as a by-product when trees are felled for timber or fuel. It is separated from the logs by beating them with wooden mallets. The strips thus obtained are dried, chipped into small pieces and sent to the tanneries.

Gum The gum exudes from wounds in the bark, mostly from March to May. Good quality gum is used in calico printing and dyeing.

Fiber The bark of slender branches yields a fiber which is used for manufacturing paper or is made into coarse ropes.

Thorns Its thorny branches are used as fences to keep stray dogs and other animals away from agricultural fields .The thorns were also used as paper pins in World War II when metallic pins became scarce.

Fodder The leaves, small twigs and pods of babul are used as fodder.

Keeping in view all these facts, the feasibility of planting babul trees can not be overlooked.

LALA FAZAL AHMAD BELAEE
Hyderabad