How a city should look after its trees
| Date :12-May-2019 |
Picture in contrast: How the choice of trees make difference is evident from these pictures. When one sees these two pictures which one would attract one the most? Obviously the one on the left. Why? Because of the beautiful flowers. These flowery plants are in the road divider
situated in front of GPO. In the right picture also are the trees but it gives very dry and gloomy impression. These trees are of Bamboo. Bamboo trees too are very much useful. But the choice of trees and its place proved to be wrong. This divider is in front of Collector
bungalow.
By Vikas Vaidya:
With concretisation of roads going on in Nagpur, the maintenance of trees on roadside and between the dividers is a big issue to be given a thought: Leaving space of 3 feet radius at the base of the tree, developing a system so that water falling on the cement roads could be diverted towards tree bases, plantation of trees like Chinch, Bakul, Amaltas, Peepal, Vad, Mango, Neem, Gulmohar, mandatory plantation, careful and scrupulous tree transplantation, are some of the suggestions from the top Botanists of Nagpur when ‘The Hitavada’ asked them how a city should look after its trees. Dr Mousumi Bhowal, Head, Department of Botany, Hislop College, “With lot of road concretisation work, we see everywhere trees are getting choked. The campaign that has taken up by ‘The Hitavada’ to save trees is laudable. We need to be so much careful as far as maintaining the trees is concerned.
There are several issues related to survival of trees after they choked by concretisation. Apart from de-choking, administration need to see that the trees are getting water. Large trees don’t need more water but we must take one thing into consideration ground water level is going down. It is difficult for the trees to get the water. After de-choking these plants need to be watered. Trees hold soil through roots to prevent erosion. Top soil is more richer. Man-made construction on hill-side makes soil gets loosened and landslide starts. Big trees have canopy under which people can protect themselves from the scorching heat.”
Dr Bhowal suggested that Pongamia (Kiranja increases soil fertility and binds the soil), Neem, Amaltas, Gulmohar, Mango, Babul are some of the trees can be planted along roadside. Because of water shortage, the trees that require less water should be planted. Those trees are able to resist pollution and absorbing heat getting generated because of cement roads. There are suggestions from noted litterateur Maroti Chitampalli about such trees, which are written on the back cover of his book. He suggests, trees like Korfad, Sher, Rui, Jatrofa, Ashwagandha, Cactus can be planted in the space in road dividers. These tree require less water and they act as anti-pollutants. “Because of road concretisation, cement debris are dropped on the road.
It becomes difficult for the trees to get water daily and are unable to absorb moisture from land due to choking. Each leaf of a plant needs water for producing sugar. It also helps them in regulating cellular chemistry. The tree then takes mineral nutrients and sugar with the rest of the tree. Trees obtain the water from their extensive root systems. The groundwater level is a very important factor that helps trees grow. Adequate groundwater level that too close to the tree helps tree to live longer. In case of concretisation and getting buried under cement debris, trees will not get water. If the groundwater level is not in good shape then it should be watered and at least a two feet space with soil should be left around the tree base. In that case tree can soak water from soil.
Due to concretisation, water cannot percolate and gradually trees start dying,” pointed out Dr P B Nandkar, former Head of Department of Botany, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. Dr Nandkar regretted, nobody cares for trees. Government should think from every angle to maintain trees seriously.
“There are some trees which have stomata at their bases through which they release heat. Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation can give a thought to it and make proper planning accordingly,” suggested Dr Nandkar. Dr Prashant Jakhi, Professor of Botany at Institute of Science and Dr Mousumi Bhowal made it clear that hammering nails in large trees may not be harmful as the bark is very thick and deemed dead. However, in the long run, it may proved an utterly bad practice. Dr Prashant Jakhi expressed unhappiness over the reduction in green cover of the city. He said, “As per international standard, a city should have one third of the area under green cover. In India, only 18 per cent area comes under green cover. As far as Nagpur’s concretisation work is concerned, we need to make some arrangements where water falling on roads should be able to flow into the tree bases along roadside. In summer, we don’t find shadow, except in the areas like Civil Lines.
While undertaking the task of de-choking, authorities concerned should leave the space of 3 feet of radius then only the tree could be able to get water. Wishy-washy work will not help. Another problem is of chopping of roots of trees. During civil works, labourers cut roots of trees which should be avoided strictly. The act is not only criminal but cruel too. I put the blame on people also who become mute spectators. Every time we should not blame the authorities, we should act proactively.”
On the issue of transplantation of trees, Dr Bhowal said, “Transplantation is good concept but it needs to be done very carefully and scrupulously. Its result is very low if not done in a proper manner. Secondly, I bring your attention to the issue of en-mass tree plantation drive. The drive is good but while conducting it people should be given responsibility of trees’ maintenance. They should be guided on how to undertake plantation, which trees they should plant. Tree is an important part of human life and it should be taught to the children how to love trees like it is done in Japan.”