Proactive govt approach can save life, property

Day by day increasing incidents of trees falling on vehicles during the rainy season in the tricity is a matter of concern. A poor auto driver, lone bread winner of the family, lost his life in one such incident. The tricity administration must understand that trees have life. Any tree which has lived its life or poses danger to the people must be removed. The administration must plant 10 trees in place of one uprooted to save life and property. Trees falling on parked cars are now quite common. Trees in mid of slip roads, which have caused serious road accidents, must be removed. Any tree of any size can be uprooted and planted elsewhere. Why can’t the administration in the tricity get machines for the purpose? An audit of aged and dangerously planted trees must be conducted. Nothing is more precious than human life. A tree can be planted easily if cut or removed, but a human life once lost cannot be recovered. The government must pay compensation to victims like the poor auto driver, who lost his life, for no fault of his.

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar (retd), Mohali 

Reduce crown of big trees

A simple and cost effective solution is to trim and prune trees into some circular shape and reduce crown of big trees so that branches do not hang out precariously.  This will maintain greenery of our City Beautiful and not pose a threat to residents during thunderstorms or heavy rains.   Proactive action by the Horticulture Department is the need of the hour.     

Shweta Sharda, Chandigarh   

Weak and old trees must be removed

It’s really sad that an auto-rickshaw driver lost his life as a tree fell on his three-wheeler during heavy rain. Many people had a miraculous escape in similar weather conditions in different parts of the tricity due to heavy downpour with gusty winds blowing all over the region recently. The tricity administration should have identified old and weak trees before the onset of monsoons and removed them. Even now, the Municipal Corporations of the tricity can do the needful before any serious tragedy occurs. 

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh

Trim all old trees

To ensure safety of residents, the Municipal Corporation should trim branches of aged trees and cut those altogether, which have outlived their life.  New trees should be planted in replacement to ensure maximum greenery in the tricity. This exercise should be undertaken every year to minimise chances of accidental deaths and damage to property of residents.  

KC Rana, Chandigarh

Officials must ensure trees don’t fall

It is paramount responsibility as well as duty of the Horticulture Department of the Municipal Corporation and the forest wing of the UT Administration to prevent any tree in the city from falling. Even ignoring preventive steps on a public complaint about termite/disease infected or overgrown trees in a particular locality should be dealt with seriously. Officials of the Horticulture Department and the UT forest wing must identify weak trees. They must ensure regular trimming of overgrown trees to prevent uprooting.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh   

Drive safely in stormy weather

Though saving trees is the need of the hour, we cannot play with innocent human lives. Trees which are on the verge of falling need to be cut immediately. The best thing that the MC can do is to identify such trees. The task of identifying weak trees should be completed before the onset of spring season to minimise the risk to human lives. Commuters should drive safely and keep distance from precarious trees. During stormy weather one should never take shelter under trees. Keeping all these things in mind can save many lives.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Axe weak & dry trees before monsoon

Chandigarh is a modern and beautiful city. Trees were grown in the city for shade and beauty. The administration should constitute sub-committee of the Forest, Environment and Pollution Departments to carry out survey of old, weak and dry trees. Dangerous trees should be cut before the rainy session. The committee should plant more trees to reduce pollution. Concrete and interlocking tiles around trees must be removed as these weaken roots and prevent seepage of rainwater in soil. More trees should be grown in place of old, weak and dry trees. 

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Periodical pruning of trees a must

Two accidents involving trees falling on vehicles sent shock waves across the tricity. There is no doubt that trees and greenery looks good, gives oxygen and shelter to commuters and adds to city’s beauty. At the same time, overgrown trees reduce visibility of vehicle drivers and cover traffic signals, which increase chances of accidents. Pruning of trees is must and should be done periodically to stop overgrowth. It helps in increasing life span of trees. 

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Cure or cull diseased trees

Trees are our friend in need. Trees fall on us unannounced as these are infected with disease. Paver blocks and concrete around trees weaken their roots and deprives them of water and nutrients. The civic authorities should conduct a survey to earmark such weak trees and remove them. Hassle-free online permission to cut trees in precarious condition on private premises should be given by the authorities concerned as the law does permit culling despite danger to humans.                     

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Support inclined trees with guards

No doubt there is a dire need of tree plantation to save environment for sustenance. But every living thing has a life span and trees too part of that. The Chandigarh Administration must conduct a survey for identifying old and unsafe trees through horticulture specialists. These trees can be supported with guards if viable. Dry, tilted and old trees on the verge of dying can be removed and replaced with new saplings.  Plant five new trees in place of an uprooted tree. Notice boards can also be put up near unsafe trees to warn residents to stay away during inclement weather conditions.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Minhas (retd), Mohali 

All depends on Horticulture Dept

Although the UT Administration knows problem of trees falling during the rainy season, it does not act in time. Due to utter neglect by the civic authorities city’s green lungs are now posing danger to the life and property of residents. So, environmentalists have cautioned people to stay away from trees especially during monsoon. Saving trees is important for preserving environment, but it cannot be done at the cost of human lives. People blame the UT Horticulture Department for its lackadaisical approach towards trees getting weak and falling due to concrete around them. Cases of trees and branches falling are witnessed every year in the city. The authorities should act and ensure timely pruning of trees to avoid such occurrences. 

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula 

Admn must identify dangerous trees

Branches of trees hanging on roads should be cut. It will help in straight growth of trees and decrease their weight. Empty portion of tree roots should be filled with sand. From time to time the administration and residents must shortlist trees, which can harm commuters so that immediate steps can be taken in advance to prevent damage to life and property.                                                                              

Sohan Lal Gupta, Patiala

Horticulture Dept at fault

It’s responsibility of the Horticulture Department of Chandigarh to take proper care of trees and identify those, which pose danger to residents. Trees must be pruned at regular intervals. It’s beyond comprehension why the department concerned does not take necessary steps to prevent trees from uprooting during monsoon.

Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra  

Chandigarh trees in poor condition 

Construction related to infrastructure, road widening, paving cycle paths with blocks and laying cables has damaged roots of trees. It has made trees vulnerable to high-speed winds and storms. The loss of lives is mainly due to unscientific pruning and disturbance in the canopy balance leading to disproportionate weight distribution on tree roots. Another reason is soil moulding and excavation for pipelines below trees, which damages their roots. Civic works around three feet diametre and five feet below trees must be avoided. Decaying branches should be treated with ‘chaubatia paste’ and diseased or damaged trees must be cut. Burning of leaves near trees should be a criminal offence. Adoption of the Japanese “Miyawaki” technique can help in growing plant 10 times faster and make forest area 30 times thicker. 

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

The onus lies on govt agencies

It is not at all sensible to save trees at the cost of human lives. The trees are undoubtedly essential for preservation of environmental and ecological balance. Trees which have outlived their life need to be removed. The authorities must act proactively in collaboration with Forest Department to identify trees, which are threat to human life and property and arrange for their safe felling in a time-bound manner. Residents can also play important role and bring to the notice of the authorities concerned vulnerable trees. However, the primary role of government can not be underestimated.

Rajender Kumar Garg, Zirakpur

Hire services of arboriculturist

Trees sustain soil moisture. A tree falls the way it leans. The MC should immediately constitute a committee, including an arboriculturist, who can review the status of trees within the city, which are over 100 years. Whichever tree is in the danger zone of falling and cannot survive for long should be laid to rest. Instead five more trees should be planted in its place. This exercise can be conducted during Van Mahotsav.  However, in the meantime the word “danger” mentioned on a tinned board be attached on trunk of trees, which are likely to fall so as to save life and property. 

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh 

Inclined trees are  public menace 

Tricity has unpleasant experience of branches and uprooted big trees falling on vehicles parked under or nearby during fierce storms/monsoon. It is the foremost duty and responsibility of the Horticulture Department of the Municipal Corporations concerned to conduct regular surveys to identify such dangerous trees. Some trees protruding and obstructing the flow of traffic on main roads are easily noticeable. It seems the authorities concerned are waiting for a major mishap. Trees on main roads, in the parking areas and slip ways should be removed/pruned as per their condition after taking permission.

Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali   

Prevent soil erosion

The greenery of Chandigarh along with safety of residents is in danger. Pests are damaging trees. Tree tops are getting heavier day by day. Roots of trees are becoming weak due to soil erosion, which endangers life and property. Pest-control should be undertaken on a war footing to save trees. Most importantly, the height of trees should be controlled through pruning. Roots of trees must be strengthened wherever possible. Dead trees should be removed.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh 

Authorise RWAS to take action

Many trees in the tricity pose danger to human life. The UT Administration can set up a helpline to receive information from the public about trees that are hazard. Trees in the residential complexes, which cannot bear  nature’s fury or have attained their age, should be shifted to green belts/parks or axed if the Horticulture Department feels it right. The department should also take note of trees that have outlived their age and put up signboards or erect a fence to caution people about their likelihood of falling. The resident welfare associations (RWAs) can also be authorised to take necessary action to save precious human life.

Dr Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

Cut Trees which have outlived life 

In the last four to five decades, trees have been indiscriminately felled and jungles cleared for the development.  Result is droughts, scanty rainfall or unprecedented heavy rains causing unimaginable devastation. As storm and rain lashed the tricity many trees were uprooted causing loss to the property and even life. To prevent such mishaps the horticulture authorities must undertake survey to identify dangerous trees and remove these after approval from the competent authorities. An axed tree would fetch revenue for the state from the retrieved timber/firewood. Besides, regular pruning of dangling tree branches must be ensured to prevent snapping of power lines and electrocution.    

SS Arora, Mohali

Allow removal of dangerous trees 

To avoid death and destruction by falling trees, the Forest and Horticulture Departments should conduct a survey to detect stability of grown up/growing trees before every rainy season. Trees failing the test should be axed. Help of RWAs can also be undertaken to identify such trees. City residents also apply for permission to axe trees, which pose danger to buildings or their boundary walls, but it is often held back due to red tape. Such cases may be decided by the authorities concerned on top priority.

AS Ahuja, Chandigarh

Each one, plant one drive out of gear  

Special careshould be taken of old trees. Death of an auto-driver due to falling of an old tree on his vehicle points at the callous attitude of the authorities concerned towards nurturing trees. The slogan “Each one plant one” doesn’t mean just plant and forget.  Nowadays, many people and organisations are conducting save tree campaigns and plantation drives.  But many of these are just a showoff as nobody takes care of plants after the drive. Raising “Save trees, save trees” slogans is meaningless in the absence of genuine action. If damaged trees pose a threat then these should be axed and new saplings be planted. 

Rashi Srivastava, Chandigarh

Damaging trees must invite penalty

It was sad to hear about the incident in which an innocent auto driver lost his life. The government must take steps to stop such mishaps. Tiles around trees must be removed as these weaken roots and eventually lead to uprooting of the tree. The government should have gadgets to detect if a tree can fall or not. People should be apprised about steps to prevent weakening of tree roots. Strict action should be taken against people, who damage trees. The government agencies must ensure that no one is hurt when trees are felled in the tricity.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

Trees fall because of weak trunks 

Trees contribute to environment by climate amelioration, conserving soil, supporting wildlife, providing oxygen and slowing process of global warming. Many trees will be axed as the authorities in Chandigarh are planning to widen roads. Some trees are half uprooted when their trunk gets weak. Such trees are unable to withstand vagaries of nature and can collapse anytime. Instead of minimising number of cars or controlling traffic, trees are facing the brunt. Therefore, it is important not to cut trees, but to control traffic and imbibe a sense of responsibility towards environment. 

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

Cut one, plant five

The monsoon showers in Chandigarh brought down many trees on roads and vehicles unfortunately killing an auto-rickshaw driver in one such incident and disrupting traffic at various places. The falling trees have brought into focus the safety of people and property. So, the authorities should take appropriate steps in coordination with the Forest Department on priority without any delay.  This can only be done by identifying and cutting old and weak trees along with pruning of dried branches of other trees. Concrete around bases weakens trees. For every tree cut, five saplings must be planted to maintain ecological balance. 

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

Launch helpline for pruning trees

Although Chandigarh is on its way to become Smart City, there are many shortcomings, which the UT Administration has to remove. One of them is the problem of trees falling on vehicles with the onset of monsoons or whenever high-speed winds lash City Beautiful. Surprisingly, no helpline has been established by the Horticulture Department on which residents can give a call to get overgrown trees in their vicinity pruned. The authorities are lethargic when it comes to identifying trees, which are a hazard and can get uprooted anytime, thus causing damage to life and property. Its duty of the Horticulture Department officials to prune trees at regular intervals, remove concrete around trees and axe those, which cannot be saved. One can find many trees in residential areas and parks, which can fall anytime. It’s time for officials concerned to wake up and take steps to solve the issue so that Chandigarh can live up to its Smart City tag.

HS Gill

QUESTION

With over half a million tonnes of garbage piled up at its Dadu Majra waste management plant and heaps of waste lying in different sectors, Chandigarh has earned the dubious distinction of being one of the worst cities in waste management. What do you think the UT Administration needs to do to solve this problem?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com