Putting Down Roots: Amaltas To Kadamb, A Green Success Story

New Delhi: Most trees planted on roadsides and central verges over a year ago, on the order of Delhi High Court, have turned into successful plantations.
Though various agencies usually plant saplings or shrubs during greening exercises, trees with a height of 8-12 feet and fulfilling four years of nursery life were planted. These met the criteria of a tree under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act.Under the act, a plant qualifies as a tree if it is woody plant whose branches spring from and are supported by a trunk. The trunk should not be less than 5 cm in diameter and at least 30 cm from the ground. The plant should not be less than 1metre in height from the ground.
The selection of the planting sites was based on a process that involved analysing satellite imagery and conducting soil studies to identify suitable vacant areas. The forest department has geo-tagged each tree, and a plantation journal is being maintained to oversee the trees for five years.
The commissioners appointed by Delhi High Court planted 10,000 trees in the past year at Station Road in Delhi Cantonment, Thimmaya Road in Delhi Cantonment, Baba Ramdev Marg, Chaudhary Balbir Singh Marg, IHBAS, AIIMS Delhi, All India Radio in Nangli Poona village, All India Radio in Khampur, Justice Sunanda Bhandari Marg and the National Institute of Homeopathy in Narela. Among the tree species planted here are Amaltas, Pilkhan, Jamun and Kadamb.
When TOI visited Delhi Cantonment, Baba Ramdev Road, and Chaudhary Balbir Singh Road, where over 600 trees were planted in July last year, it found the trees were full of life.
"Once a tree survives one winter, it's set," said advocate Aditya Prasad, a court-appointed commissioner. "Station Road in Delhi Cantonment was the most difficult as work could only be done between 12 pm and 4 pm because traffic had to be managed. A plantation exercise requires massive coordination with utility agencies, land owning agencies and police. Before we started the plantation, the central verge on Station Road was excavated to a depth of 3.5 feet, and remnants of the old road were found. The plantation was done after removing the concrete of the old road from the soil," said Prasad. He said this spot was the most successful now with healthy trees.
Advocate Tushar Sannu, also a court-appointed commissioner, said the trees are in good condition due to the attention given to them. "These trees were planted as per the guidelines of the high court. The soil terrain was checked. Tree species which have a high survival rate were planted on the specific soil so that the trees would adapt easily. Besides, regular follow-ups to ensure that trees have tree guards or proper watering have been done."
The planted trees are being maintained by land-owning agencies for five years, while the forest department is supervising the process, and a tree journal has been made. "At the plantation site, boards have been installed to inform the public that the trees have been planted on the order of the high court and any damage caused to trees will be an offence under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act," said a forest official. He added that these trees come from nurseries and the roots of these trees are kept in grow bags. From bags, they are directly planted into the soil.
According to the National Forest Policy, 1988, it is necessary to encourage the planting of trees alongside roads, railway lines, rivers and streams, canals and on other unutilised land.
CR Babu, professor emeritus and head of the Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CMEDE), said: "Plantation of trees on roadsides, particularly broad-leaved species, helps in trapping PM10, PM2.5, and PM1. In other words, these trees remove the dust particles and reduce the impact of other pollutants, including ozone. It also helps in purifying the air pollution at source."