Thiruvananthapuram: The pruning of trees, usually done before the Monsoon, is yet to be carried out. It won't be long before this becomes another rainy season punctuated with news about damaged houses and walls. Only the other day, cars plying at Jawahar Nagar narrowly escaped a giant branch which came crashing down.
“It was because of the elections that there was a delay in commencing pruning and other pre-monsoon works. Now, instructions have been given out to magistrates and the PWD,” said District Collector Biju Prabhakar.
If a tree on the premises of a government office seems likely to fall, the respective government department can submit an application to cut it down. But sometimes it takes long before the authorities act upon such applications, which can lead to drastic consequences.
Ideal avenue trees
Trees that are ideal to be avenue trees or for beautification of school compounds are those built to withstand state's climate. The lovely Gulmohars on the premises of Kanakakkunnu palace does not belong to this category. On Wednesday too, a Gulmohar tree had toppled here.
Exotic trees like Jacaranda, Gulmohar and Pink Cassia are not ideal choices to be avenue trees. Environmentalist Shanti S says; “It is always better to choose indigenous trees.”
Trees with broad girth, like rain-trees, should not be planted if there is not enough space for its roots to spread. Trees planted in clusters can withstand strong winds, according to Anitha S. “When planted in groups, trees can obstruct the flow of wind. The rain-trees in Government Central High School, Attakkulangara is an example,” she says.
