Social bodies to take initiative for de-choking trees

Following ‘The Hitavada’ campaign against choking of trees due to concretisation, various social organisations in the city have expressed their willingness to come forward and do some work in this regard. The representatives of these social organisations said that the campaign had inspired them to take initiative and respond positively. There are Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working in environment sector and plantation. Most of them have been mounting a positive pressure on the civic authorities for proper conservation of trees. Now, social organisations also have expressed keenness in coming forward.

Dr Prashant Nikhade from Rotary Club of Nagpur Green said that though individual members were involved in some or the other campaigns to save trees, organisations were hardly doing anything concrete in this regard. A forest-lover, Dr Nikhade expressed his wish to take active part in de-choking of trees. Rajesh Vyawahare from Rotary, Dr Smita Pakhmode from JCI Nagpur Medico, Ajay Patil from Vanarai, Naresh Chafekar from Hirwai, Aparup Adavadkar, an environmentalist, also expressed similar feeling. Vishakha Rao, President of ‘Hirwai’ organisation, is presently out of the country but she quickly responded through WhatsApp message and congratulated ‘The Hitavada’ for running a campaign against choking of roadside trees due to concretisation. She also shared her observations. She pointed out, “Roadside tree felling has always been a serious concern and ‘Hirwai’ has been trying to address the issue at various levels.

There are different ways of doing it. Creating awareness, meeting NMC officials including Mayor could be a couple of ways. Due to our consistent efforts, officials agreed to dig the area around the trees to allow them to breathe. Some trees from Civil Lines were freed from cementing.” Rao felt that implementation of certain steps by civic authorities is very important. “Whatever efforts anybody takes are inadequate because of two reasons -- Tree Act and its implementation is a bit weak, and unfortunately there is no proper policy on trees. Trees should be part of town planning and an integral part of the road design. ‘Hirwai’ thus plans to continue work on creating awareness amongst children and their parents and teachers through Hirwai Green Finger Award competition. Work on advocacy for framing a proper Tree Policy will make tree respectable and loved part of urban life,” said Vishakha Rao.

“As far as my knowledge goes, today, except for Delhi and possibly Chandigarh, no other city in India has a properly documented Tree Policy,” she added. Unfortunately, these things are not followed up. In Nagpur, near Jafar Nagar some of the trees have suddenly acquired a faded look. One well-known Botanist when went deep into it to know what had happened to the tree, he was shocked to know that the roots of the trees were cut during some drainage work. According to the workers, the roots of the trees became a barrier in the work so they cut them. Horrible! Such chopping of trees is akin to cutting organs of a human being. Can anybody cut his or her limbs?

So cruel, mean and villainous act! Nobody monitors such acts. Trees assume so much importance and play a vital role in improving the human condition and their very existence. Instead of being grateful, irreparable damage is being caused to trees. Concretisation has many ill effects on biodiversity. Only a few roads in the city have a natural canopy created out of grown trees as if they are welcoming the commuters. But, the madness of becoming a ‘smart’ city, the city fathers have focused on making Nagpur a concrete city. The obsession for concretisation is killing trees gradually. De-choking of trees, too, has not gained desired momentum.

No corporators, MLAs have come forward to take initiative on this important issue in respective areas. They will be left with no other option than take initiative, provided people mount pressure on them for saving the trees by de-choking them.

There is a common misunderstanding about choking of large trees. Most of the people feel that trees with existence of 100 or 200 years or older than that do not have any impact of getting choked as they source water from the rocks deep inside the earth. This is not true. The survival period of an older tree may be longer but gradually it also gets affected due to choking. ‘The Hitavada’ interacted with Botanists from the city. According to Botanists, being moist daily is a difficult task for plants on land. They can not run to the lake or river for water. Each leaf of a plant needs water supply for producing sugar. It also helps them in regulating cellular chemistry.

The tree carries mineral nutrients and sugar with the rest of the tree. Trees obtain water from their extensive root systems. Groundwater level is very important factor that has an impact on growth of trees. Adequate groundwater level, that too, close to the tree helps a tree live longer. In case of concretisation and cement debris choking a tree at its base, the tree will not get water. Some people argue that trees get their water from the rocks inside earth. For this purpose also, enough groundwater has to be available. If groundwater level is not good, a tree should be watered and at least a two feet space with soil should be left around the tree at its base. If such a space is given (by way of de-choking), water gets soaked and tree is able to source it from the soil. Secondly, roots send water to the leaves from inside. Because of choking due to concretisation water can not percolate and gradually tree starts dying, said Botanists.