Saving the grand old banyan tree

Jisha Surya
First Published : 31 Aug 2010

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Setting a role model for green development, the Sasthamangalam junction is being expanded without chopping down the old banyan tree that has been providing shade for decades.
The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) and environmentalists have reached a consensus on the fate of the trees at Sasthamangalam junction which once faced the axe for the junction improvement works. There was mutual agreement on retaining the trees at the traffic island, while cutting a few on the footpath for the improvement of the junction.
Five trees, including the giant ficus, at the junction will not have to give way for the renovation of the junction. The decision was taken after a meeting held last week which was attended by KRFB officials and environmentalists, including Sugathakumari and architect R Shankar.
According to the KRFB officials, the workers will only cut trees on the footpaths. The auction for these trees was held at Sasthamangalam on Tuesday. All the trees at the island will stand tall to see the development of the junction. The ficus tree, the prop roots of which spreads to surroundings, will, however, be pruned to avoid damage to the road in future.
Back in March, when R Shankar tried to check on an alternative path without chopping the tree, he was almost manhandled by a mob. However, the tireless efforts of a few such environmentalists and local people paid off.
KRFB Chief Operating Officer PC Harikesh promised that the junction improvement works would not harm the trees at the island. "Only trees which critically affect the road works will be cut down. These include some trees on the footpath. The ficus tree will be pruned to curtail its further growth," he added.
With the controversy surrounding the trees coming to an end, the junction is all set for renovation. Project Engineer Sreekantan Nair said that the junction improvement would be completed in a month. "Now, drain works are progressing along the road till the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital. It will be over in two weeks. The junction improvement works will be completed within a month," he said.
However, officials of the implementing agency - Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL) - expressed their displeasure over the decision. The TRDCL is responsible for  maintaining the road for the next 15 years. "The ficus tree, which spreads its prop root, will damage roads. But our concerns fell on  deaf ears. We are left with no option but to go with the decision," a TRDCL official said.
The Sasthamangalam and Vellayambalam junctions have been waiting for improvement for months after the completion of the road works. The BSNL work, which delayed the junction improvement works at Vellayambalam, too has been resolved.