Agartala, August 18 (TIWN): Rubber plantations are expanding rapidly in Tripura. Rampant destruction of natural forest is causing enormous environmental problems.

Ironically, in some cases government  have encouraged rubber plantations as a replacement for traditional  swidden agriculture systems (Jhum Cultivations) because they believed that they were more environmentally friendly. In such traditional farming systems, local people slash and burn an area of forest to clear it for crop growth before leaving the land fallow for a period to recover after harvesting.As far as rubber industry is concerned, the environmental issues are  ... Natural rubber factories are always located around the plantation .... The incomplete coagulation results in the loss of rubber particles ..... activated sludge process or aerated lagoon to prevent the bad smell from the anaerobic condition.

Excess Rubber Plantations are to be blamed for many negative affects on Tripura - its climate, drying up of rivers, soil erosion, diseases, destruction of eco system, natural habitats  etc.