Peepal tree relocated after residents protest against its felling
RUDRAPUR: An old “Peepal” (sacred fig) tree with a date tree grafted into its trunk was relocated after residents protested its felling for widening of road in US Nagar on Friday.
The complete process of relocating the tree which is now planted about four km away from the original spot, took three months. The Peepal tree which is considered sacred in Hindu religion was more than 30 years old.
Amit Saini, a nature lover of Bazpur area said, “When Public Works Department (PWD) officials were planning to cut it down for the widening of the road we opposed and approached forest officials for its relocation. On their advice, we contacted an expert firm of Delhi which had expertise in relocation of the trees.”
Seven months back, a Shiv mandir at Doraha in Bazpur was being shifted by construction agency PWD somewhere for the widening of road. The agency was planning to cut the Peepal tree but some nature lovers opposed its felling. They demanded the tree must be relocated somewhere instead of felling. People used to worship the tree too so they joined hands with nature lovers. PWD officials accepted the proposal of relocation of the tree but left the process on nature lovers.
Saini said, “On our request Ajay Nagar of Rohit nursery, Delhi, visited the site and started the process. Nagar and his team lifted both trees through two cranes and transported it on a trawler to the premises of government inter college and replanted.”
Nagar said, “The whole process took three months. The tree was separated from its roots and was coated with chemicals to keep alive. When we were assured that the tree would survive, its trunks were cut and shifted and replanted in college premises.” He claimed that his firm has relocated around 12,000 trees so far.