The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Soldiers turn protectors of trees

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Friday, Jun 13, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Soldiers turn protectors of trees

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Madras Engineering Group and Centre (MEG) is undertaking a project to transplant 34 valuable mature trees such as mahogany, pongomia, tamarind and Ashoka on its premises.

The trees are to make way for a three-storeyed building on the MEG campus. So far 21 trees have been transplanted within the campus.

Colonel M.N. Devaiah, Commanding Officer, TB1, MEG, told reporters on Wednesday: “All the transplanted trees are doing well. The science of tree transplantation is still in its infancy and we are working in co-ordination with the Bangalore Environment Trust to study and document the survival rate. At present, the expected survival rate is 80 to 90 per cent.”

This is the first time that a Defence establishment is transplanting trees on such a large scale. This will serve as a pilot project and after evaluating its success, the aim is to make tree transplantation mandatory in all defence projects, he added.

Col. Devaiah said the cost of transplanting a medium-sized tree would work out to a maximum of Rs. 17,500. As a living tree is an invaluable resource, it was decided that the expense was not an issue. Moreover, the cost would further reduce if it is done on a large-scale.

The transplant decision was taken in April.

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