STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari laid stress on the transplantation of trees instead of tree felling while widening highways.
According to official sources, Gadkari laid more stress on the transplantation of trees than tree felling. He told the contractors and officials present at the meeting about the possibility of saving trees through transplantation while widening roads. "I don't support rampant felling of trees in the name of development at a time when we all talk about climate change," he said.
Gadkari further said, "Nowadays, India has many companies associated with the transplantation of trees. When the need arises, you can go and meet them for advice on how to save trees as much as possible."
Lakhs of trees on either side of the National Highway-37 have been felled in Assam for widening the Nagaon-Dibrugarh stretch. On many other roads in the state, thousands of trees have been felled.
According to official sources, a few years ago, some forest officials were sent outside the country to see how tree transplantation was done. However, even after that, the practice is a non-starter in the state because of the cost involved.
According to sources, trees on either side of roads are not forest resources, barring the ones in forest areas. To cut such trees, the construction companies pay the Forest Department the cost of tree felling. After felling the trees, the department auctions them and deposits the amount in the state exchequer.
In other states of India and abroad, costly machines like cranes, playloaders, digging equipment, etc. are used. All trees are not transplantable. For example, peepal, ficus, semal, sheesham, etc., can tolerate transplantation. However, Palash, Arjun, Shatoot, Jhimil, etc., cannot tolerate transplantation. Any tree with a taproot system cannot be transplanted as the root goes deep into the soil, and it is not possible to isolate it without damage. The cost of transplantation depends on the size of the trees, varying from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh per tree. Trees up to a height of ten feet can be transplanted.
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