Kolkata, 14 October (H.S.):

West Bengal government has been accused of ignoring the central government's warnings regarding the continuously declining forest cover in the Darjeeling Hills since 2011. Meanwhile, recent heavy rainfall and landslides have further heightened concerns about the ecological imbalance in the region.

Opposition parties and environmental experts have stated that rampant tree felling for uncontrolled construction and real estate activities has severely impacted Darjeeling's sensitive ecology.

The Forest Survey Department's latest report for 2023 clearly indicates a rapid decline in forest cover in Darjeeling district.

According to the report, the district's total forest area was approximately 2,279 square kilometers in 2011, and by 2023, it had decreased to approximately 1,402 square kilometers. This represents a decline of approximately 31 percent during this period.

The report states that this decline in forest area has been recorded in all categories—extremely dense forest, moderately dense forest, and open forest. Extremely dense forest has seen the steepest decline, nearly halving compared to 2011. Environmentalists say this decline is not due solely to natural causes, but rather the result of administrative negligence and reckless development policies.

Experts have warned that if the state government does not take concrete steps to conserve forests, Darjeeling's ecology could suffer irreparable damage in the coming years. They say that controlling construction activities in the hilly areas and restoring forests should now be an immediate priority.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey