Chandigarh man's mission: Save trees from concrete and asphyxiation

CHANDIGARH: LR Budhania has devoted his free time in giving breathing space to the roots of trees which have been asphyxiated with concrete.
Owner of a book shop in sector 37, he has taken up the task to do so in this city where in almost all sectors, all the big trees on the road sides or in the inner markets have been meted out this cruel treatment.
"I go out with a couple of people with my tool box almost every day to remove the concrete from the roots of trees so that they can get the required amount of air and water to remain alive. As per the direction of National Green Tribunal, a space of six feet must be left around the roots of trees but unfortunately, this is barely complied in the city," Budania said.
Paveela Bali, president of an organisation named Run, has filed an appeal in the high court to save some 700 trees from being chopped down for a flyover project in the city.
Expressing satisfaction that HC has put a stay on the proposed felling of tree till the next hearing date of July 23, she said that she also embark on her daily mission to save even those which were given sentence of gradual death with the concrete or tiles smeared all over their roots.
"My heart bleeds when I see trees being cemented from all sides. So every day I go out with my gardener for couple of hours and free some of them from the cement bondage," added Bali.
On this issue, Dehradun based Forest Research Institute (FRI) team also raised serious concerns by submitting a health status assessment report to municipal corporation (MC) in Chandigarh on rendering these trees weak, unstable and sick.
As per the reports, the trees have been subjected to all kinds of human disturbance and construction activities. The pipes and civil work below the trees have cut main roots anchoring the trees.
MC Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav assured by saying, "I have directed my staff team to remove cement or tiles from six feet area around the tree roots to show compliance to NGT guidelines across the city. In our coming plantation projects too, we are going to be vigilant about this component."
Vinod Kumar, another tree crusader and assistant professor in department of sociology of Punjab University, has recently submitted an application to vice-chancellor with signature of 160 students/faculty members on tree protection in PU.
"We have asked VC to form a committee of environment conscious students and faculty members through which all the construction works or projects within PU must be approved. More than 100 trees have already died after becoming hollow from inside," Kumar said.