Karnataka   

Transplanting trees a viable, though expensive, option

FORCED EVICTION:Various factors come into play if transplanted trees are to survive.

Old Bangaloreans have been watching with increased gloom the city's fast depleting tree cover. They feel that their beloved Garden City is being denuded into a dust-blown Concrete Jungle, all under the guise of infrastructure development. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope for them, if the forest officials in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are to be believed.

The city has lost tens of hundreds of gigantic, decades-old trees for various development projects, particularly road widening and Namma Metro. The greens and concerned citizens are raising a hue and cry, but the officials claim to be exploring all options, including expensive tree transplantation.

Transplanting trees is expensive as it includes the cost of digging, use of heavy machinery such as cranes and earthmovers, and transportation.

Iffy project

The officials said that in 2007, the BBMP had transplanted trees from M.G. Road to the Manekshaw Parade Grounds, Freedom Park and few other places. Of course, some of them did not survive, they concede. Various factors come into play if the transplanted trees are to survive, such as the age of the tree, species, ground structure and the way it has been handled. Even so this option may still be explored, they claim, hoping that some civic-minded people could come forward to transplant the trees at their own risk and cost. “However, the decision has to be taken by the BBMP Council,” officials said.

The officials say with several projects taken up this year, the city has lost 2,423 trees. Some 812 road-side trees, which were either dead or diseased, were felled between April and December 2010. With most projects being executed in the old Bangalore Mahanagara Palike area, the BBMP is also looking at ways to restore the green cover here. A survey is now under way to identify where gap planting can be taken up. “This will not only restore the city's green cover, but also help combat pollution, which is increasing in the city,” they said.

The BBMP has planted 3.11 lakh saplings across the city, the officials claimed.

CHITRA V. RAMANI

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