Trees translocation bid fails, green activists caution authorities

Trichy: A year after the public works department (PWD) completed a tree translocation bid at the govt physiotherapy college near Trichy district collectorate, most trees have failed to spring back to life. With Trichy corporation planning translocation of dozens of native trees from Panjapur green park instead of axing them for the new wholesale vegetable market project, environmental activists have cautioned the authorities to pursue efficient ways to ensure survival of maximum number of trees.
Out of 14 native trees, mostly neem trees, translocated from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Govt Medical Hospital (MGMGH) and planted at the govt physiotherapy college, 13 trees show no signs of regrowth.
Instead of cutting the trees, PWD translocated the trees using heavy machinery, to the bund of an abandoned stone quarry inside the college. Lack of continuous maintenance and poor choice of location to replant the trimmed trees were cited as reasons for the failed attempt.
While MGMGH campus is in Puthur near the banks of Uyyakondan canal, govt physiotherapy college is at Periya Milagupaarai, comprising rocky terrain including quarries. "Failure of such translocation attempts sends the wrong message. Recently, Trichy corporation assured to translocate hundreds of trees for the new market project at Panjapur. We are unsure about the outcome of that attempt too," K C Neelamegam, environmentalist said.
Activists said that new sites should be identified in nearby vicinity so that the trees will sustain similar soil conditions. Previous translocation bids involving relocation to nearby locations have achieved a higher success rate than bids where translocated trees were placed away from their original habitat.
"We will be more careful in choosing locations for tree translocation, most likely within the same campus or nearby vacant areas. Survival rate of neem trees post translocation has been low too. Reasons will be checked," an official source in PWD said.
Tree translocation bids in Trichy city:
Location
Trees
Survival rate
Date
Govt law college, Khajamalai
14
60%
Feb 2024
Govt physiotherapy college, Periya Milagupaarai.
14
7%
April 2024
Kamarajar library, TVS tollgate
58
90% (expected)
March 2025
Cost of tree translocation: Rs6,000 to Rs10,000 per tree
Key observations:
1. Neem trees struggle to regrow post tree translocation
2. Trees translocated to nearby areas show a high survival rate
3. Periodical maintenance for six months and beyond crucial
4. Translocation at the rocky surface has failed