Jisha Surya
First Published : 12 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: It may sound odd. As odd as a cruel butcher rearing a herd of lambs secretly in his house. The Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL) and the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), dubbed as tree-chopping goons by the greens in the city, are also among the biggest growers of trees here.
Both the TRDCL and the KRFB, responsible for felling more than 250 trees in the city in recent years, have planted more than 3,500 saplings so far. When the KRFB officials planted around 3,000 trees on the compounds of some major institutions, the TRDCL has planted as many as 570 saplings on the sides of roads developed under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP).
Among the 570 trees planted by the TRDCL, 535 have survived. As many as 470 have attained enough growth. The TRDCL has been assigned with planting 1,232 trees on the roadsides. According to a senior official, saplings have been planted every 15 metres. After the completion of CRIP roads, around 3,000-4,000 trees will line up on the two sides of the roads, he said.
A committee, headed by the then Director of Museums K Raveendran, had shortlisted the variety of trees. As many as 18 species were selected by the committee. The species for each corridor was selected based on guidelines of the Indian Road Congress. Accordingly, separate varieties were selected for corridors belonging to commercial and residential areas.
“If new buildings come up in commercial areas, there will be a tendency to cut big trees. Such problems won’t arise in residential areas. So, trees are planted to suit the area,” TRDCL vice-president Anil Kumar Pandala said.
“Fruit trees are not planted, since fruits falling on road may cause skidding of bikes. Also, trees like ficus, which affects utilities and footpaths, are not used,’’ he said.
But the green initiative of the KRFB faces a threat from electric lines. ‘’The Kowdiar-RR Lamp area has underground electric cables, which is the reason for healthy trees in the area,” Pandala said. Among the trees planted along the CRIP roads, those on the Pettah-Chackai stretch have grown considerably well, he added.
Mayflower, Jacaranda, Tulip tree, Cassia fistula (Kanikkonna), ‘Raja malli’, Lagerstroemia speciosa aka Pride of India, Ilanji, Apple Blossom and Singapore orchid are some of the trees planted by the TRDCL in the city. Along the Sasthamangalam-Vellayambalam stretch, as many as 56 saplings of Bauhinia blakeana (Singapore orchid) have been planted. This is an evergreen tree with purplish red flowers.
Jacaranda has been planted from Asan Square to Pettah. It will have blue flowers. Mahogany trees too were suggested by the committee in areas which lacked too many buildings.
The TRDCL is responsible for taking care of these saplings for the next 15 years. “Some people call us if our workers skip watering. I have received such calls from some headload workers. Some even alert us if somebody destroys these saplings,” Pandala said.
The Airports Authority of India has asked the TRDCL not to plant saplings along the road near the Airport. Except this road, around 5,000 trees will be planted after the completion of CRIP road works. Along with the maintenance of roads, the TRDCL will take care of these trees too.
jisha@expressbuzz.com
First Published : 12 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: It may sound odd. As odd as a cruel butcher rearing a herd of lambs secretly in his house. The Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL) and the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), dubbed as tree-chopping goons by the greens in the city, are also among the biggest growers of trees here.
Both the TRDCL and the KRFB, responsible for felling more than 250 trees in the city in recent years, have planted more than 3,500 saplings so far. When the KRFB officials planted around 3,000 trees on the compounds of some major institutions, the TRDCL has planted as many as 570 saplings on the sides of roads developed under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP).
Among the 570 trees planted by the TRDCL, 535 have survived. As many as 470 have attained enough growth. The TRDCL has been assigned with planting 1,232 trees on the roadsides. According to a senior official, saplings have been planted every 15 metres. After the completion of CRIP roads, around 3,000-4,000 trees will line up on the two sides of the roads, he said.
A committee, headed by the then Director of Museums K Raveendran, had shortlisted the variety of trees. As many as 18 species were selected by the committee. The species for each corridor was selected based on guidelines of the Indian Road Congress. Accordingly, separate varieties were selected for corridors belonging to commercial and residential areas.
“If new buildings come up in commercial areas, there will be a tendency to cut big trees. Such problems won’t arise in residential areas. So, trees are planted to suit the area,” TRDCL vice-president Anil Kumar Pandala said.
“Fruit trees are not planted, since fruits falling on road may cause skidding of bikes. Also, trees like ficus, which affects utilities and footpaths, are not used,’’ he said.
But the green initiative of the KRFB faces a threat from electric lines. ‘’The Kowdiar-RR Lamp area has underground electric cables, which is the reason for healthy trees in the area,” Pandala said. Among the trees planted along the CRIP roads, those on the Pettah-Chackai stretch have grown considerably well, he added.
Mayflower, Jacaranda, Tulip tree, Cassia fistula (Kanikkonna), ‘Raja malli’, Lagerstroemia speciosa aka Pride of India, Ilanji, Apple Blossom and Singapore orchid are some of the trees planted by the TRDCL in the city. Along the Sasthamangalam-Vellayambalam stretch, as many as 56 saplings of Bauhinia blakeana (Singapore orchid) have been planted. This is an evergreen tree with purplish red flowers.
Jacaranda has been planted from Asan Square to Pettah. It will have blue flowers. Mahogany trees too were suggested by the committee in areas which lacked too many buildings.
The TRDCL is responsible for taking care of these saplings for the next 15 years. “Some people call us if our workers skip watering. I have received such calls from some headload workers. Some even alert us if somebody destroys these saplings,” Pandala said.
The Airports Authority of India has asked the TRDCL not to plant saplings along the road near the Airport. Except this road, around 5,000 trees will be planted after the completion of CRIP road works. Along with the maintenance of roads, the TRDCL will take care of these trees too.
jisha@expressbuzz.com
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