Over the next few weeks, 30,000 trees will be planted in Kolkata and Salt Lake with the platform of developers providing 20,000 young trees to Kolkata Municipal Coropration and West Bengal Pollution Control Board joining hands with Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation to plant 10,000 trees more.
On Monday, the Bengal chapter of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (Credai-Bengal), an umbrella organisation of major builders in Kolkata and adjoining areas, will hand over the first tranche of 2,000 trees to KMC at the Chaplin park opposite the civic headquarters.
“Kalpavriksha, a collaboration between KMC and Credai-Bengal, will lead to plantation of 20,000 weeping deodar trees in the city. Credai-Bengal will provide 10-ft tall trees that KMC will then plant in various locations,” Credai-Bengal chairman Nandu Belani said.
The weeping deodar derives its name from the gracefully drooping branches. It is an evergreen tree. They grow at a moderate pace, adding one or two feet per year.
An estimated 15,000 trees were uprooted or damaged by the cyclone a month ago. Though some trees have been replanted, a comprehensive plantation drive is required to make up for the loss and Kalpavriksha is one such initiative that will cost Rs 25 lakh.
The Bidhannagar civic body will also go in for a plantation drive to make up for the 4,500 trees that were lost in its area. But instead of planting a single variety of tree, it has opted for diversity and will plant 24 varieties in Salt Lake, Rajarhat, Lake Town and localities along VIP Road.
The project is a part of WBPCB’s re-greening efforts post Amphan. WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra said tenders have already been floated for taking up plantation project. “The plan is to plant 10,000 trees on the road side, in and around Bidhannagar and off VIP Road,” he said. Officials said that work is expected to be completed by July. The plantation cost has been pegged at Rs 2.5 crore.
Officials said that 24 varieties of trees of short and medium height like Bakul, Neem, Arjuna, Sishoo, Pipal, Asawtha, Seuli, Amloki has been selected as recommended by experts for the road-side plantation programme as five different varieties — Kamini, Jaba, Gulancha, Karabi and Rangan have been selected for road divider plantation.
“The trees have been listed in consultation of horticulture experts as to which trees would be best suited for plantation in Salt Lake and Rajarhat area off VIP Road as per soil nature and land use pattern,” a civic official said.
Source:Times of India
