Kerala - Kochi   

People to be roped in for saving trees

KOCHI: A high-voltage resistance, led by the Mayor and the Chairman of the Town Planning standing committee of the city corporation, recently against the cutting down of a “Vaka” tree (Indian siris, Albizia lebbeek) near Palarivattom is paying dividends.

A trader accused of leading woodcutters to bring down the tree has offered to plant 10 saplings in the area and protect them, as an act of remorse, said E.M. Sunilkumar, standing committee chairman. Mayor Mercy Williams and Mr. Sunilkumar intervened to stop axing the tree on February 19. The two had a war of words with a section of traders who had secured sanction from the Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department for cutting it down. It was the second time that the tree was escaping the axe following the intervention of civic authorities.

The huge branches of the tree, which has been there for the past few decades, were cut down before help arrived.

The trader pleaded that he was unaware of the fact that permission of the Corporation was required for cutting down trees in the city. The Social Forestry wing has been asked to look into the issue and take corrective measures, Mr. Sunilkumar said.

The Corporation plans to reverse the trend of cutting down trees by involving children and others in action plans for protecting trees. The civic body plans to highlight the act of the trader and evolve a model for others to follow. These steps are crucial for a city like Kochi which is fast losing green cover, he said. The civic body had earlier made one of its health inspectors plant 10 saplings each at Convent junction and Marine Drive as a punitive measure for permitting traders to cut down a tree at the former.

The Corporation plans to prune the branches of trees that pose a danger to motorists and pedestrians in the city before the monsoon. The Town Planning standing committee, which will meet on Friday, will give shape to a project for protecting the trees and creating awareness among schoolchildren of the need to save them.

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