Kolkata: A fresh survey by Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) shows around 50 to 60 tall trees across Salt Lake to be in poor shape. The authorities have already cut down around several dead trees and plan to take up avenue plantation drive after puja.
Officials said that many of the tall trees were either leaning forward or drying out. “Around 40 such trees which had been either fully damaged or dead have been cut down with the forest department’s permission.
Fresh tree plantation will be done after puja,” said BMC MMIC (environment) Rahima Bibi Mondal.
Civic officials said that trees that are in retrievable condition are often replanted in other locations. “Quite a number of trees have been replanted in the past,” Mondal said. The authorities are presently conducting tree trimming drive across Salt Lake, specially at places where puja pandals are being set up.
Officials said that trees that are in bad shape would be trimmed from the top to reduce their overall weight so that it could continue to stand on and those which are in very bad condition will be uprooted.
Following a tree health audit that was first carried out in 2022, about 100 tall trees across Salt Lake were found to be in bad shape with many dangerously leaning forward. The civic authorities conducted trimming of large trees to shed some weight of the trees for them to continue standing.
Horticulture experts said that the nature of soil in Salt Lake is such that large trees, which have deep roots, should not be planted on the road side boulevards as it cannot penetrate deep into. “Large or tall trees are suitable for plantation in the parks. For Avenue plantation in Salt Lake, small or medium size palm trees should be considered,” said a horticulture expert.
During the Amphan cyclone in May 2020 around 4,500 trees had fallen in BMC area, out of which about 2,500 to 3000 trees had fallen in Salt Lake and its adjacent localities alone. The civic authorities with the help of an organisation had replanted several trees that were uprooted.