Kolkata: Following a health survey of trees in and around Salt Lake by Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC), around 100 tall trees on the road sides have been found to be in bad shape. The civic authorities are planning to trim many of them, and will uproot and replant some trees which are bending forward so much that they could fall any time.
BMC MMiC (environment) Rahima Bibi Mondal said the trees that are in bad shape will be trimmed from the top to reduce overall weight. “Those which are almost falling over will be completely uprooted. In their place, we plan to plant fruit trees,” Mondal said, adding that the authorities have been trimming trees at regular intervals.
Civic officials, assisted by a botanist, have been conducting the survey, that started earlier in the year, and giving feedback at regular intervals, Mondal said.
The survey also revealed that due to lack of space for the roots to spread out, cracks have developed in boundary walls, and the trees have grown up leaning forward. Near Tank 2, an Arjun tree was found leaning forward and its roots had resulted in a crack in the boundary wall of a housing complex.
Officials said it will also be seen as to whether a tree, once uprooted, could be replanted at another location. A few tall trees damaged during Amphan in 2020 were transplanted, civic officials said.
Botanists and horticulture experts said unscientific trimming, rampant digging of pavements for utility work, trees being malnourished due to the inherent weak soil in Salt Lake have resulted in large trees losing their balance. This year, at least five tall trees suddenly fell in different parts of Salt Lake without there being any gusty wind. “This often occurs if the trees don’t get proper support. Trees could also lose balance if not trimmed properly,” said Partha Karak, a CU botanist.
“Trees are often trimmed and pruned in an unscientific manner by workers who chop off large branches. Besides, the soil in Salt Lake is weak and the roots of large trees lose their grip,” said Bidhannagar Horticulture Society secretary Arijit Poddar.
Horticulture experts said the nature of soil in Salt Lake is such that large trees should not be planted on the road side boulevards as the roots cannot penetrate deep.