ADC Translocating Trees Obstructing Amaravati Development

Vijayawada: Amaravati Development Corporation (ADC) has undertaken a project of translocating trees obstructing development of infrastructure, like roads and buildings, as per the master plan.

ADC joint director (Horticulture) V.S. Dharmaja said the objective of the project is to save the trees almost as is by translocating them to a tree nursery in Ananthavaram village within the capital region.

Dharmaja disclosed that these translocated trees will be planted in buffer zone areas without losing their age and carbon credits. He said so far, they have translocated more than 4,000 trees from different areas in the Amaravati Capital Region. They are Bauhinia 315 trees, Bignonia 296, Millingtonia 117, Ficus 2,200, Amla 472, Maredu 250 and Legestromia 350.

Explaining the process of translocation, the joint director explained that initially, branches of the trees are pruned. The cut portions are chemically treated, and a trench is dug around the root system. After uprooting the tree, its tap root system is protected with a sheet/cloth. The tree is then sent to the nursery. There, all the translocated trees are put into big bags filled with potting mixture and protected.

On mortality of the translocated trees, Dharmaja mentioned that 85–90 per cent of the translocated trees survive. According to him, a 12-year-old tree costs nearly Rs 2–3 lakh.

“Based on the success of Phase I of the project, ADC is planning to translocate another 4,000 trees where infrastructure is being developed. The Phase II project is expected to be completed by December 2025,” the joint director added.