Once bitten, twice shy. After facing flak from NGOs for being unable carry out a tree transplantation drive successfully (last year, around 30 trees that were transplanted at Dadar Swimming Pool died due to improper care), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now hire agencies with expertise to do it for them.

 

Chandrashekar Rokde, deputy municipal commissioner says, "After many NGOs complained that transplanted trees don't survive, we decided to invite agencies with expertise in tree transplantation. The idea is to increase the survival rate of transplanted trees".

 

Officials say that if the trees are transplanted scientifically, they do survive, but at present, they are being hacked and transplanted by labourers without sufficient knowledge. "The chosen agency will have well-informed manpower, experts on horticulture and skilled workers to take care of the transplanted trees for two years," says Rokde.

 

"So far, inadequate know-how about tree transplantation was jeopardising the life of the tree. With proper agency expertise behind it, the survival rate will increase," said Avinash Kubal, a member of the Trees authority.   

 

The BMC recently purchased 5000 full-grown trees for Rs 10 lakh from nurseries in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. These include 20 varieties of trees, including the palm tree and Gulmohar tree.

 

URL: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/mar/070310-bmc-tree-plantation-agencies.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mdnews%2Fmumbai+(Mid+Day+Local+News+-+Mumbai)