‘Transplantation rate is only 31%’

The data submitted by the civic body’s gardens department have shocked, both the tree authority members and officials.

The data submitted by the civic body’s gardens department have shocked, both the tree authority members and officials.

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In a statement issued to the civic body chief Subodh Kumar, the department has claimed that the tree authority had given its nod to transplant 103 trees. However, only 32 survived the transplantation process.

Sources said that even Kumar was startled at this low rate and asked members to suggest measures to improve it.

This survival rate, of slightly over a mere 31%, has now surprised members and officials, who have called for more effective measures to ensure that transplanted trees survive the process.

The tree authority member Niranjan Shetty said that trees to be transplanted should be subjected to a close scrutiny. “Attention needs to be paid to the girth and height of the trees that are being transplanted. There have to be fixed guidelines that need to be followed.”

Deputy municipal commissioner (gardens) Suhas Karvande said, “The rate is indeed dismal. We are looking for new options and had even asked the tree authority members to suggest measures to improve this rate. Unfortunately, no concrete suggestions came from the members.”

Dr Nilesh Bakshi, a member of the tree authority, said that basic rules were being flouted, while transplanting trees. “There are some cardinal rules which need to be followed. One of them is the method of transplantation, which is a big flaw in the process. The other is about maintaining such transplanted trees, which needs to be done at least for 3 months or so, or else it will not survive.”

Dr Bakshi, however, said that there was hope. “The civic body has appointed 16 agencies for transplanting and maintaining trees. Hopefully, in a few months, they will show results.”