Trees dry up, nature lovers cry foul

If I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree, said Martin Luther. Leave alone planting trees, the existing ones in the city are miraculously drying up one after another.

Some dry up due to root rotting, debarking caused by animals and due to human folly. Omin Debara, a civil society activist says, “The drying up of trees in the city does not augur well. The fast depleting green cover is already a problem. There is a need to protect trees and also plant new ones.”

Several trees in busy centres of the city are drying up, for instance a huge tree at the Sangeet petrol pump which once gave shade to several auto rickshaw drivers has completely dried up. Some dead trees are used by shop keepers as decorative items. During festivals the trees are draped with serial bulbs. A case in point is a tree at Padmarao Nagar.

Y Ramesh, director, Urban Biodiversity Division, GHMC says, “Technically the trees aren’t dead as a lot of micro organisms live on it. Algae, fungus and many organisms feed on it and it gives back energy.”

He added, “We cut down the trees on request from people if it is posing a danger to life.”

Many trees wither away due to age but people too throw acid and make holes in the bark of trees to kill it if they want to get rid of them. “The law however does not permit anyone to fell a tree. A request to the forest department has to be made,” said an official at the Urban Biodiversity Wing, GHMC.

S V L Sridevi, a resident of Kharkhana said, “Appeal to people and awareness programmes on protecting trees is the need of the hour. Many just make holes in trees without knowing the consequences.”