TREES & MONSOON
THE ASIAN AGE (JUN 2002)
By Skimmy Gupta
Mumbai trees are falling down,falling down,falling down every year.Monsoons, if on one hand brings relief from scorching heat and unbearable humidity.On the other hand,trees all over Mumbai fall at a rapid speed.
“ More than 3000 trees fall every monsoons in the city.Also BMC is responsible for losing more than 80% coconut trees of the city have fallen or dried,” says S.Kumar Shah, horticulturist and former member of tree authority who has been instumental in planting about lakhs of trees from last 25 years.”
Shah says, “When one tree falls I feel that my one son has died. I have received numerous complaints that the BMC staff is busy taking private contracts,so,where would they be bothered about falling trees.The situation has got worse from last year .Time has come for active public and effective political involvement BMC and NGO’S have shun away their responsibility from tree protection.We need more Babubhai’s today (who was instrumental in planting and supervising thousands of trees in entire Juhu Scheme ).Chipko movement in case of trees should be started again.”
He further added" The number of trees Mumbai loses every monsoons due to BMC'S negligence is much higher then those lost through natural calamity. We lose more than 3000 trees every year if counted big and small. It is absolute negligence of BMC department.There is a whooping budget of approximately in crs .sanctioned by the garden department,still trees are suffering The budget allotted for trees is not properly planned.Also the planning of plantation department requires who is fully equipped with knowledge about environment and trees,but when maintainence goes into the hands of ignorant and uneducated people the problem starts. Every year 75 to 80 year old matured trees are falling and a large part of nature is suffering.I don't understand the authorities do not realize the natural phenomenon of oxygen generated by trees.”
The Asian Age spoke to horticulturists from different parts of Mumbai to gauge their views,research and insight on drastic falling of trees this monsoon and the main common point found was that the negligent attitude and unplanned strategies by BMC authorities are a great deal responsible for trees to lose their lives just on onset of monsoons.
Nita Mishra,a horticulturist from Ghatkopar said, “The roots and stems of the trees of the city have become weak.And during monsoons the gusty winds and torrential rain brings most of the trees down.”
Ashok lalwani ,horticulturist,Vriksha Nursery,Vile Parle stated,“Today most of the roads are enclosed by concrete pavements,thus making the roots of the trees weak.Lot of diggings around the trees throughout the year add to damaging of roots.Most of the trees appear green from the top are infact very dry from the roots and base.It is very sad that nature is being ignored today and most of the environmentalist groups do not value this part of nature.A lot of periphery around trees should be kept free and regular pruning by concerned authorities will lessen the trees from growing weak and toppling during monsoon.”
S.A Mali,offcer in charge,Kandivili Fire Station informed, “At an average we are receiving 4-5 calls daily from our area which extends from Goregaon to Dahisar.It is the start of the monsoons and so one can omagine how many trees are falling.”
An officer at Andheri Fire Station said that already we have lost around 15 trees in our fire station jurisdiction.
HOW TO SAVE TREES :HORTICULTURISTS
1.Trees planted 3-4 feet deep have a better anchorage and offer more resistance to monsoons.
2.Before monsoons the pruning of trees helps in balancing them.
3.Trees planted on road sides have scattered branches and transportation knock them mercilessly resulting in weakening of trees.The branches should be cut in such a way including size and style so that gusty winds and breeze should pass through the tree freely and easily.
4.A good plantation program takes 2-3 years for contemplation.,detailed study and implementation.
5.A tree should always have a basin/boundary at the bottom due to the gradual spreading of roots.
S.Kumar Shah opines, “Seeing the grievous problem,I have decided to form a ‘tree lovers group’ wherein problems and emergencies in case of fallen trees will be taken care of.For instance ,the photo of any tree falling or being cut in Mumbai could be send to us noting time,date ,area and authority responsible.If any tree needs immediate care like root infection etc will be looked at and responded to at the earliest.Thirdly more and more people should co-operate at this juncture.”
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By Skimmy Gupta
Mumbai trees are falling down,falling down,falling down every year.Monsoons, if on one hand brings relief from scorching heat and unbearable humidity.On the other hand,trees all over Mumbai fall at a rapid speed.
“ More than 3000 trees fall every monsoons in the city.Also BMC is responsible for losing more than 80% coconut trees of the city have fallen or dried,” says S.Kumar Shah, horticulturist and former member of tree authority who has been instumental in planting about lakhs of trees from last 25 years.”
Shah says, “When one tree falls I feel that my one son has died. I have received numerous complaints that the BMC staff is busy taking private contracts,so,where would they be bothered about falling trees.The situation has got worse from last year .Time has come for active public and effective political involvement BMC and NGO’S have shun away their responsibility from tree protection.We need more Babubhai’s today (who was instrumental in planting and supervising thousands of trees in entire Juhu Scheme ).Chipko movement in case of trees should be started again.”
He further added" The number of trees Mumbai loses every monsoons due to BMC'S negligence is much higher then those lost through natural calamity. We lose more than 3000 trees every year if counted big and small. It is absolute negligence of BMC department.There is a whooping budget of approximately in crs .sanctioned by the garden department,still trees are suffering The budget allotted for trees is not properly planned.Also the planning of plantation department requires who is fully equipped with knowledge about environment and trees,but when maintainence goes into the hands of ignorant and uneducated people the problem starts. Every year 75 to 80 year old matured trees are falling and a large part of nature is suffering.I don't understand the authorities do not realize the natural phenomenon of oxygen generated by trees.”
The Asian Age spoke to horticulturists from different parts of Mumbai to gauge their views,research and insight on drastic falling of trees this monsoon and the main common point found was that the negligent attitude and unplanned strategies by BMC authorities are a great deal responsible for trees to lose their lives just on onset of monsoons.
Nita Mishra,a horticulturist from Ghatkopar said, “The roots and stems of the trees of the city have become weak.And during monsoons the gusty winds and torrential rain brings most of the trees down.”
Ashok lalwani ,horticulturist,Vriksha Nursery,Vile Parle stated,“Today most of the roads are enclosed by concrete pavements,thus making the roots of the trees weak.Lot of diggings around the trees throughout the year add to damaging of roots.Most of the trees appear green from the top are infact very dry from the roots and base.It is very sad that nature is being ignored today and most of the environmentalist groups do not value this part of nature.A lot of periphery around trees should be kept free and regular pruning by concerned authorities will lessen the trees from growing weak and toppling during monsoon.”
S.A Mali,offcer in charge,Kandivili Fire Station informed, “At an average we are receiving 4-5 calls daily from our area which extends from Goregaon to Dahisar.It is the start of the monsoons and so one can omagine how many trees are falling.”
An officer at Andheri Fire Station said that already we have lost around 15 trees in our fire station jurisdiction.
HOW TO SAVE TREES :HORTICULTURISTS
1.Trees planted 3-4 feet deep have a better anchorage and offer more resistance to monsoons.
2.Before monsoons the pruning of trees helps in balancing them.
3.Trees planted on road sides have scattered branches and transportation knock them mercilessly resulting in weakening of trees.The branches should be cut in such a way including size and style so that gusty winds and breeze should pass through the tree freely and easily.
4.A good plantation program takes 2-3 years for contemplation.,detailed study and implementation.
5.A tree should always have a basin/boundary at the bottom due to the gradual spreading of roots.
S.Kumar Shah opines, “Seeing the grievous problem,I have decided to form a ‘tree lovers group’ wherein problems and emergencies in case of fallen trees will be taken care of.For instance ,the photo of any tree falling or being cut in Mumbai could be send to us noting time,date ,area and authority responsible.If any tree needs immediate care like root infection etc will be looked at and responded to at the earliest.Thirdly more and more people should co-operate at this juncture.”
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Labels: City
posted by Skimmy @ June 18, 2008
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