Brick on edge plan to prevent tree fall

BANGALORE: Garden City, Air Conditioned City, The City of Lakes, were only some of the names that Bangalore was better known by in the past. But due to the apathy of the government agencies in planning, the city has become only a 'shade' of its glorious past.With the depleting tree cover in the city, the agencies such as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are in a 'fire fighting' mode to prevent further damage to the greens of the city, especially during heavy monsoon.Reasons for the 'fall'BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah shared his observations on the topic. Speaking to Express, he identified that the lack of adequate water to the roots is one of the main causes for decreasing strength of the roots."If trees do not get water all the way to the roots, they become weak and hence result in uprooting during heavy winds or rain," he said. Earlier this year, he ordered that all trees on pavements and other places should have adequate water retention capability which could be possible only with the removal of concrete around them.The apathy of contractors and the BBMP officials in not ensuring 'breathing space' for the trees has led many trees to go weak in the roots. On March 11, Siddaiah issued a circular stating that all works should ensure water supply to the roots.The spate of tree falls also claimed the lives of innocent by standards. On August 21, 2010, the city got a rude awakening when 48yearold Srinivas, an auto driver, paid with his life when a tree fell on him due to the heavy downpour. A couple of months later, disaster struck again on November 17, 2010, when a tree came crashing down on a BMTC bus in Shantinagar, injuring three people badly, adding to the increase in tree fall incidents.Safeguarding the green coverLearning from the past mistakes, the BBMP, which is currently under fire from all quarters, has taken progressive steps towards safeguarding the green cover over the city. "There are over 20 lakh trees in the city", Siddaiah explained. He added that if fifty litres of water is stored there, it would serve to recharge ground water tables, infiltrate to the roots of the trees and also act as an arresting point for rain water. The exercises is popularly called "brick on edge" which involves the removal of concrete surrounding the tree and keeping bricks on the edges to ensure that water percolates down into the ground to reach the roots.Terming it as "micro water sheds", he said that this would be able to reduce the number of tree falls within the next one or two years. "Though these efforts should have been initiated nearly 10 years ago," the Commissioner stated that there is still time to ensure that further damage can be reduced substantially. "Such efforts would help increase foliage," Siddaiah added.He also said that the "bricks on edge" would be completed by the end of July. But he clarified that the measure would not impede smooth flow of pedestrians."Money is not a constraint in our efforts to conserve water," Siddaiah asserted and added that all his concentration would be channeled towards conserving water for the city, which, he stated, would solve many issues with simple measures.He also said that area legislators have also welcomed the move to allocate 20 per cent of ward grants towards water harvesting measures.Percolatory pitsThe BBMP has also evinced interest in forming percolation pits on all major roads of the city. The pits would serve as 'micro' arresting points for rain water. Siddaiah believes that small efforts such as this could prevent larger miseries for the people during heavy rains. He termed Rain Water Harvesting (RWH), protecting trees, percolation pits and other measures to conserve water as an "integrated effort."Sharing the future plans for greens in the city, he said that this year alone, the Palike will plant 10 lakh saplings. "Our nursery already has 6 lakh saplings stock," he said and added that there is no need to procure saplings from outside. He has also said that legislators and others have opined that converting parks into tree parks would be a good idea.Specifications of "Bricks on Edge"Minimum 0.5 feet deepSurroundings 1½ metres to 2 metreCost Rs 34,000 per treeDetails of Pits3 feet/3 feet/3 feet (according to size of road and other conditions)Approximate cost Rs 1,000 per pit.