Utilising technology is not the ultimate solution for nature conservation. Using technology with knowledge and skill is needed to make up for the damage caused to the environment. Five months ago, two heritage Peepal trees, which were transplanted, have now dried up due to lack of scientific care and ignorance by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). This is a perfect example of using technology without knowledge and skill. In the name of ‘trial transplantation’, the Garden Department of NMC translocated a 84-year-tree in presence of Municipal Commissioner in June to inaugurate and to test the newly purchased transplanter machine, which was bought at a cost of Rs 5.47 crore. Another tree, aged 64 years, was also translocated with the help of the same machine. However, both trees which were shifted from Bhande Plot Chowk to near Sheetala Mata Temple, close to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) office, have now become a victim of unnecessary red tapism.

 

When The Hitavada asked question about the reason behind the death of both heritage trees, NMC shrugged and blamed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and NHAI in turn blamed NMC for the act. “We provided the machine on rent to NHAI for translocating trees. We do not have information about the trees,” Ganesh Rathod, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Garden Department said to The Hitavada. Meanwhile, Tushar Dhore, Senior Project Manager, NHAI said that both trees were transplanted by NMC during inauguration of the new machine and the trees which were shifted by NHAI have survived.

 

The process of translocation of trees should be carried out under supervision of environment expert, however the translocation took place only in presence of Municipal Commissioner and Garden Department staff. As per the local residents, NMC tankers are still watering both Peepal trees but it died two months after its translocation at the new spot. The trees were transplanted to clear the way for works related to the construction of the Indora-Dighori flyover. NMC rents out the machine to other Government authorities for their use but the Garden Department, it seems, is least concerned about the process of transplantation.