Docs irked as MNJ hospital cuts down trees on premises
Indiscriminate felling of trees and cutting down of branches on the premises of the MNJ Institute of Oncology at Lakdikapul seem to have infuriated the doctors as they are vehemently opposing the gradual destruction of green cover at the facility. They say that the trees were planted by eminent persons a long time ago and were meant to enhance the greenery in the hospital.
“The systematic destruction of the green cover began three-four days ago. Initially, I thought it was just a few trees, but when I checked, I learnt that more than 95 per cent of the trees were chopped down. Some of these trees were planted by some eminent persons. There was a tree that was planted by the head of a hospital in New York, who had treated Sonia Gandhi, as well,” said Dr C Sairam. These trees needed to be protected, not chopped
down, he added.
However, hospital authorities said the trees in the hospital were causing injury to patients who were visiting it. The branches were weakened in the recent monsoon, they said, adding that they only did some pruning of the trees, and there was no such planned deforestation.
The hospital superintendent Dr Jaya Latha told this newspaper that the branches were only
pruned, after it fell on a patient a few days ago. “The trees are old and the branches were shaking as they had weakened in the recent rains. We have only removed a few old trees and branches. We have not cut any trees on the hospital premises. We are now going to plant new saplings in place of the trees that have been cut. We will do it under the state government’s Haritha Haram programme,” she added.