Following the callous ‘pruning’ of an ancient banyan tree impacted by the construction of the six-lane elevated corridor project at Porvorim, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has reportedly demanded clarity on the translocation of six other heritage trees which are slated for translocation. It is pertinent to note that the banyan tree relocated from St. Inez to where it currently stands at Campal ground is reportedly showing no signs of life.
The two century-old tree had to make way for one of the roads of the ‘Smart City’ work. It is learnt that part of the tree is virtually dead. However the good news is that the tree still shows some signs of life and can be revived. It must be said that translocation of a tree is a delicate task and requires meticulous planning. It requires the expertise of arborists and engineers, as well as the right equipment, time and resources. Successful transplantation of a tree depends on various factors including understanding the biological, physiological and mechanical aspects governing the tree. Translocation of trees should not mean slow death of these trees. Translocation of a tree also means that the birds from the tree and other life forms will be displaced.
