London: A court has sentenced a farmer who, in order to prevent floods, to drastically alter the course of a river, cut down trees and cause serious damage to biodiversity. A 68-year-old farmer, John Price, has carried out construction work on an industrial basis in the name of flood protection in one of the tributaries of the Jeremy River, one of the main rivers in England. John Price used large bulldozers and dredgers to remove the obstructions that caused flooding along the canal by cutting down the trees on the canal’s sides. It has been found that he has done construction work in a length of about a mile. 12 lakh fine and one year imprisonment.
The court also stated that this amount will be used for reviving the river bank as before and for court expenses. The action is for the industrial destruction of the environment’s habitat. Around 71 trees in the traditional Kaiwari, which is lined with trees, have been completely cut down and 24 trees have been felled. Environmentalists explain that these trees played an important role in ensuring biodiversity in the region. Extensive damage was done in December 2020. John Price told the court that the trees were cut down and a system was created to remove the waste and other things from the river to prevent the floods that occur every year in the low-lying areas of the region. More than 7 crimes have been proved against the farmer. In addition to the one-year jail term, the court also banned John Price from holding the position of company director for three years.
The court also stated that the compensation for the damage caused to the river due to the damage caused to the river should be fixed within 12 months. Some say John Price did the right thing and saved them from the threat of flooding. But the court pointed out that John Price did not consider the notice to stop the construction work and the work continued. The court found that the priced construction measures did not help in flood control but disturbed the biodiversity. The land on either side of this hand line is owned by Price’s farm. The court explains that the action against Price is also a warning to those who adopt such unscientific methods to avoid floods. Earlier in July 2007, the court had sentenced him to fine for constructing an illegal dam in the river to irrigate his potato farm.
Last Updated Apr 21, 2023, 6:06 PM IST
