KOLKATA: The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority has sought permission from the forest department to uproot six full-grown trees in the sprawling Rabindra Sarobar lake area. According KMDA, these trees have been leaning dangerously after the squall that hit the city last Friday. KMDA felt that the leaning trees were a danger to morning walkers, birders and other visitors to the park.Horticulturists identified the six trees after a health survey of the trees on the Rabindra Sarobar premises. The root system and stem of these trees were weakened because of fungus and termites. Fifteen such trees can be chemically treated and saved. But nothing much can be done for these six trees which are damaged beyond recovery,” a KMDA official said.Once the forest department gives the green signal, there will be a compensatory plantation — six saplings for every single tree felled. KMDA will then inform the Forest Development Corporation which will organize the uprooting and auctioning of the trees. The money raised from the auctioning will be transferred to the KMDA’s account.Sumita Bandyopadhyay, member of the Lake Monitoring Committee formed by Calcutta High Court , also supported the move. “If trees are decaying beyond recovery and posing a threat to morning walkers, they must be removed. But at the same time, KMDA must ensure proper care of the saplings that will be planted to compensate for the loss of the full-grown trees.

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