Summary:
HYDERABAD: Pillalamarri , the great banyan tree in Mahbubnagar , is virtually on deathbed. Even the banyan trees outside the compound of Pillalamarri are infested by white ants.District and forest officials have launched several measures to keep the grand old banyan tree alive, but the efforts came too late. However, it has been proved that chlorpyrifos would adversely affect many tree species. Notwithstanding the claims of officials that the recent 'injection' of chlorpyrifos has rejuvenated the 700-year-old tree, the trunks have been eaten away by white ants. With prop roots growing all over the compound it is difficult to identify the mother tree..