Forests on Fire

This book is a pioneering work on the politics and ecology of Himalayan Tarai. The eco-systems here are highly dynamic as also productive, may be one of the highest in the country. Consequent upon the demographic change thousands of hectares of forest area was brought under cultivation which led to indiscriminate felling of trees. Deforestation was also caused by illegal timber trade and owing to the myopic vision of the government. Subsequent upon this the immense capacity of Tarai to hold ground water disappeared. Flash floods have become a regular occurrence after reclaiming the Tarai region. Together with the meteorological hazards, Tarai is also plagued with problems of land alienation of the marginalized population, peasant unrest, militancy, the repercussions of the Uttrakhand movement as well as industrial pollution.