In squall season, Lake to lose 6 dead rain trees

  • | Wednesday | 27th March, 2019

Moreover, some of these dead trees have been leaning dangerously, posing threat to morning-walkers and other visitors to the Lake. But the root system of these six trees got affected so badly that they were left beyond recovery. “Since this is a season of squalls, these trees may collapse at any point in the strong winds. But polypore fungi are responsible for majority of parasitic fungal incidence in trees, which wreak havoc on the green giants. KMDA will intimate the Forest Development Corporation, which will organize the uprooting and auctioning of the trees.

KOLKATA: Six full-grown rain trees , which has caught a fungal infection , will be uprooted from Rabindra Sarobar , the sprawling 73-acre green zone in south Kolkata, before a storm strikes and fells the diseased trees.According to horticulturists engaged by the KMDA, custodian of the Lake, to assess how far the trees have been affected, the six shirish trees (scientific name Samanea saman) have died due to the infection. “Those have to be removed as the diseased trees may contaminate others. New seedlings will be planted there,” a horticulturist said. Moreover, some of these dead trees have been leaning dangerously, posing threat to morning-walkers and other visitors to the Lake. “Since this is a season of squalls, these trees may collapse at any point in the strong winds. So, we want to remove them as early as possible,” he said. In the past, squalls have laid waste to trees with weak root systems. After particularly strong thunderstorms, uprooted trees would be a common sight at the Lake and most of them were found to have been affected by fungal infection.After the forest department gives the green signal for the trees’ removal, compensatory planting will be carried out; six saplings will be placed for every single tree felled. KMDA will intimate the Forest Development Corporation, which will organize the uprooting and auctioning of the trees. The money will be sent to the KMDA’s account.According to a report by NEERI, which carried out a detailed study on the flora and fauna of Rabindra Sarobar, the presence of saprophytic macrofungi in an ecosystem is beneficial as they help in the natural recycling of nutrients in plants. But polypore fungi are responsible for majority of parasitic fungal incidence in trees, which wreak havoc on the green giants. “The common parasite of deciduous trees causes white rot and heart rot. Such fungal pathogenic incidence in trees of Rabindra Sarobar requires regular control, if not eradication and periodic follow-up for pest management,” said a NEERI scientist.A KMDA official pointed out they had been taking action against fungal infections affecting trees. “Fifteen such trees were treated and could be saved. But the root system of these six trees got affected so badly that they were left beyond recovery. Those have to be uprooted,” he said.

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