I appreciate that the Vyara and Songadh Parsee Jarthosti Anjuman has taken up a project to plant babul trees to get kathi wood with the financial support of Rustom Parabia’s family that donated Rs 2,50,000. At present much of the total babul wood production is consumed by fire temples in Gujarat and Maharashtra, and the rest of the production is utilized for cooking, heating, tool handling, cart making, etc. Due to a rising demand for this wood, the cost is increasing day-by-day. It would be better to take up babul tree plantations on idle community lands adjacent to the doongerwadi, educational institutions, etc. It would be preferable if guidance and help is sought from forest department officials who know the techniques of plantation.
The late Firoj M. Panthaki, retired deputy conservator of forests, Gujarat (IFS) had written an article "Planting of Babul Trees" in Parsiana which can be useful to babul tree growers. ("Feeding the fires," Parsiana, August 1988 had carried two schemes for kathi cultivation proposed by businessman Dara Deboo and retired forest offiver Homi Chothia — editors) Being a retired forest officer from Gujarat, I too can guide tree growers in general and babul tree growers in particular.
PIROSHA M. TAMBOLI
Navsari