The Hindu 18.11.2010
BBMP to penalise those cutting roots of trees
Staff Reporter
Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) Forest Department will levy a fine on those who tamper with the roots of trees in the city.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Krishnappa said that he would apprise the Commissioner regarding the issue. “The root of 60-year-old Peepal tree ( Ficus religiosa), which fell on a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus injuring three persons, had been cut. The trees become unstable when there is digging, cutting or any other activity that tampers with the root system,” he said.
He said that it is very difficult to predict when such a tree would fall. “Most often, since the roots are deep in the soil, we will not even know that it has become weak and lead to ‘mechanical imbalance'. Such trees get uprooted easily with some external pressure, such as winds,” he added.
Mr. Krishnappa said that even during laying of footpaths, engineers must ensure that the roots are not cut and there is adequate space for water to reach the roots.
He said that the department would soon conduct a survey of trees, identify all the old trees in the city and prune them if necessary to avoid such accidents in the future.
He said the BBMP would urge other civic agencies to be careful while laying cables or pipelines to ensure that the trees' root systems are not affected or cut.
“We need to use the powers we have to enforce such measures to preserve the greenery,” Mr. Krishnappa said.
