Tiruchi Corporation begins translocation of trees to from site of integrated market at Panjapur

Tiruchi Corporation has begun translocating trees from Green Park to other areas to pave the way for the construction of the new integrated wholesale vegetable market on the site

Tiruchi Corporation has begun translocating trees from Green Park to other areas to pave the way for the construction of the new integrated wholesale vegetable market on the site.

Green Care, a Coimbatore-based non-governmental organisation engaged in protecting trees and transplanting trees, has been roped in for the task. As of Thursday, about 33 trees of neem, pungai, naaval, illupai, and marutham species, which are over 10 years old, were uprooted from the Green Park and transplanted along the service road of Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway near Mannarpuram.

The trees were removed with earth-moving equipment and sown in planting beds up to 10 feet in depth. The exposed parts of the branches were covered to protect them from damage during transportation. Volunteers have been engaged in the process, and the civic body is assisting in watering the trees.

“There is enough space to translocate about 70 trees along the service road. Since the trees have been planted on the red soil, there is a good survival chance, and proper maintenance will enable the trees to grow well,” said K. Syed, chairman of the NGO.

As many as 297 trees from the park, which was once raised with public support, would be removed and transplanted in other places, including at the upcoming bus terminal at Panjapur. As per the rule to plant 10 saplings for every tree removed, about 2,970 tree saplings would be planted along the Edamalaipattipudur Road, Panjapur, and nearby areas to boost green cover, a Corporation official said.

City activists and civic organisations have been opposing the move to cut down trees for the construction of the market. They questioned the need for the need to allot 22 acres of land in Green Park when government land was available near the highway.