City to see largest tree translocation
The city will witness its largest tree translocation as 326 trees of diverse varieties will be shifted from five junctions of LB Nagar owing to the Strategic Road Development Plan. The said trees will be moved from the central median at Bhairamalguda, where a new flyover is to come.
LB Nagar on the whole is slated for three flyovers and two underpasses. This will put an immense pressure on the air quality in the area. But the new move comes as a relief to the choking city as of the 600 trees that have been marked for culling, over 326 will be relocated due to the efforts of city-based organisations and the GHMC.
The majority of these trees are 3-4 years old and the irony is that they were planted as part of the Hyderabad Metro Rail’s compensatory plantation drive. “The huge expenditure on the greening efforts of the previous projects is being wasted this way,” opine tree lovers.
The GHMC has informed that some of these bio diverse varieties like Raavi, Kanuga, Kondamalle and Kadamba would be shifted to a private plot at LB Nagar. The other trees are yet to find new homes.
Volunteers in the project are seeking more donors. “The general public must come forward in adopting these trees by giving them space in their homes. All it takes is an area of land and a commitment of 2 years to ensure that the tree survives the next summer,” says Mr Uday Krishna of Vata Foundation who is volunteering for this major drive.
Majority of these trees are 3-4 years old. The irony is that they were planted after existing trees were cut for the Metro Rail project.