Civic authorities realise trees may choke to death
| Date :05-May-2019 |
By Vikas Vaidya:
THOUGH they have not picked up remedial activities in full swing, civic authorities have certainly woken up to the reality that thousands of trees are likely to choke to death due to concretisation around them. The civic body has begun work of de-choking the trees, though not on large scale. Concretisation has left most of the tree bases covered with cement with no space for water percolation. ‘The Hitavada’ has been running a campaign raising the issue of choking of trees. Existence of several trees is in danger as contractors who constructed cement roads have disdainfully dumped debris near the trees on the roadside. The choked trees provide clear evidence of how casually road contractors have worked. Due to heavy load of cement trees are now gasping for breath.
Abhijit Bangar, Municipal Commissioner, had conducted a meeting of Assistant Commissioners, Executive Engineers of all zones, Chief Engineer of Public Works Department asking them to de-choke trees by May 23. Considering the seriousness of the issue after ‘The Hitavada’ campaign, Bangar has now asked the officials to expedite the work for de-choking trees. When it was brought to the notice of Bangar through reports that some zone officers were still sitting on the order, he promised action in the issue. Nanda Jichkar, Mayor, too, expressed anguish over the choking of trees. “I had brought it to the notice of contractors that trees might get choked. They did not pay attention to my suggestion. Unfortunately, I also did not pursue it. I never realised that situation would get so bad.
On every road where work of concretisation was on trees were choking,” she admitted. When asked how she was planning to de-choke the trees, Jichkar said, “There are several Non-Government Organisations (NGO) working on this aspect. They should approach NMC with their suggestions and we will think over it.” The Mayor, however, was not aware of the meeting convened by Bangar where he had instructed all zones to complete work of de-choking the trees. “I am not aware about the meeting convened by Bangar but I shall ask him the details,” she said. “I would convene a meeting in a day or too to take measures. I want the work of de-choking of trees to be done as early as possible.
If it gets delayed then considering the scorching heat and reduction in ground water level, survival of the trees would become really difficult,” Jichkar assured. It was brought to the notice of Jichkar that Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) at its construction site near Butibori is planning to transplant the trees spread on its land. Jichkar at first said that the survival rate of such trees was very less but she would consult top botanists of the city on the issue. She also informed that one such tree transplanted by NMC near Ganesh Mandir, Tekdi was growing. Bangar, who is continuously monitoring the work of de-choking of trees said, “I am regularly taking stock and holding meetings.
Last Monday, in our meeting all the zones had put the details of the trees that have choked due to work of concretisation. Now, I am again holding a meeting on Monday, May 6 where all the zones would submit photographic information of work of de-choking which is going on war-footing.” Botanists in the city have already warned that trees would not survive if the contractors keep throwing cement debris at the tree base. Groundwater level is very important factor in growth of trees. In case of concretisation and dumping of cement debris, trees will not get water. “There is less awareness among people, the workers of NMC, the labourers who are involved in construction works.
There have been incidents where during civil work the labourers had cut full-grown roots of trees,” they said. Some Botanists have suggested that NMC should impart training to the labourers working with them regarding care of trees. “This will not only save the existing trees but also help in imbibing the thought of conservation of plants,” they suggested.