The green cover of tall and dark pine trees that surround the idyllic Sumendu Lake in the tiny hill town of Mirik is rapidly depleting because of a lack of proper conservation.

Local people and representatives of NGOs sought intervention from the state government and the Mirik municipality to conserve the pine forest.

Mirik is located 52km from here,

Along with the lake and the Indreni footbridge over it, the pine forest is yet another attraction for tourists and residents who take a stroll in the area.

“Hundreds of pine trees used to be on the banks of the lake. But because of the lack of protective measures, the number of trees is rapidly reducing. If proper steps to conserve the forest are not taken immediately, the green cover will completely deplete in the coming years,” said Gyalbo Lama, convener of the biodiversity management committee which functions under the West Bengal Biodiversity Board.

The Sumendu Lake is spread over around 1.5sqkm. These days, pine trees are regularly falling in the forest.

According to Lama, around eight trees have fallen in the past couple of weeks.

“These plants depict the rich biodiversity of the place and also contribute to the environment of the town. We have appealed to all departments concerned, the GTA and the local civic body to conserve the pine forest,” Lama, who is also the general secretary of the Mirik Civic Society, said.

Ashish Tamang, a representative of ‘I Love Mirik,’ a local NGO, sounded worried over the reduction in the number of pine trees on the lakeside.

“We have spoken to administrative officials. We were told that necessary measures will be taken soon,” Tamang said.

Representatives of the Mirik municipality said the board of administrators at the civic body had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for the overall development of the lake and its adjacent areas.

“We have sent a DPR for the overall development of the lake and its adjacent areas, including the pine forest, to the state urban development and municipal affairs department, with an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. We have learned that the project has been approved. Once we get the funds, we will initiate the work. A considerable portion of it will be spent on the protection of the pine trees,” said L.B. Rai, the chairman of the board of administrators at the municipality.