How Powai canopy got a new lease of life ………Clara Lewis I TNN
Transplanted trees rarely survive. But effective monitoring by citizens has ensured a 90% survival rate in case of 200 trees transplanted from in and around the Indian Institute of Technology, Powai.
The trees transplanted to the Aarey Milk colony two months ago have already begun sprouting leaves. “When there is transparency, constant interaction and effective monitoring, it leads to a positive change,’’ said Elsie Gabriel, one of the five members on the citizen monitoring committee set up by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to monitor the widening and improvement of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR).
The 200 full-grown trees were from the 4-km section II of the JVLR extending from L&T Junction to the road overbridge about 500 metres from IIT-B. These included peepul, banyan, pheltoforum, jackfruit, coconut, rain, acacia and other species. Vikas Tondwalkar, head of the environment department at MMRDA, said the transplanting of trees over the years had been a learning experience.
“In 2002, we had transplanted around 82 trees at Aarey, but very few survived as locals took them away for fuel. This time, we carefully selected the site, provided security employing locals and ensured watering every alternate day,’’ said Tondwalkar.
Last week when the citizens’ committee accompanied World Bank officials to the site, they were pleasantly surprised to see the trees sprouting leaves.
“Following the decision to widen a section the JVLR, it was found that 258 trees would have to be cut. Another 282 had been identified for transplantation. But unfortunately no one came forward to adopt the trees. Only 21 fruit-bearing trees were accommodated within the IITB campus and eight coconut trees near the Powai lake. Since MMRDA had obtained the five-acre plot in Aarey from the Dairy Development department, it was decided to relocate the trees there. We were skeptical but are glad to see the trees survive,’’ said Gabriel.
Buoyed by its success, the MMRDA is contemplating transplanting another 100 trees doomed for cutting to Aarey. It has already planted over 500 saplings as compensation for the trees to be cut.
“In section I from the Western Express Highway to the L& T junction and section III from the ROB to the Eastern Express Highway, around 606 trees were transplanted at Aarey and alongside the JVLR. Of these, 418 have survived,’’ said Tondwalkar. He added that the MMRDA would plant around 3,000 Astonia to ensure a green cover all along the route. The MMRDA would also green the median before the monsoon. “The MMRDA must constitute such citizens’ groups for all urban infrastructure projects,’’ added Gabriel.
‘WHY CUT, JUST TRANSPLANT’
* A two-metre wide pit is dug around the tree to be cut
‘WHY CUT, JUST TRANSPLANT’
* A two-metre wide pit is dug around the tree to be cut
* This pit is then filled with water so as to moisten the roots
* Simultaneously, the tree branches are cut
* The tree must be transplanted the same day
* At the transplantation spot, a 2-metre deep and wide pit filled with cow-dung and moss is readied.
* The tree, along with its roots, is put into the pit that is then filled with soil till the tree is able to stand erect
* Its branch ends are covered with moss and bandaged with sackcloth
* The tree is watered daily for a week and then on alternate days
* Such trees need close monitoring till the monsoon and then regular examination for three years