BENGALURU: Over a year ago in Bengaluru, tree activists were doing the rounds to remove advertisements hammered onto trees. This was part of their campaign to create awareness on the harm it could cause. Even as they have been in talks with ad agencies to curb the practice, the trees in the largest lung space in the city, Cubbon Park, are being hammered with nails. This, just for the sake of numbering them.
With around 7,400 trees in the park, activists said that advertisements and number plates on trees can prove to be harmful, especially after they are removed. "When trees are re-counted, we put new number plates on them," said Mahantesh Murgod, deputy director of Cubbon Park.
However, Hemant Kapoor, founder of Save Green, an NGO, said that once the nails are removed, germs can enter the tree and result in its death. "We have seen many trees being brought down by the BBMP as well, because of advertisement nails. One of the trees on 80 feet road is also about to be brought down for the same reason," explained Hemant.
Painting or placing boards near the trees is a better option, suggested Trees for Free founder Janet Yegneshwaran. "Even cutting the bark from a tree can cause its death. In some places, I have seen people cut too much just for numbering them," she said.From a legal point of view, tree activist Kurian PK said that while the Prevention of Disfigurement Act 1981 covers advertisements, it does not mention anything on numbering plates, which is why they can't support the process.
Mahantesh explained that they are looking into a proposal with government botanists on making the system computerised, where the scientific name and number will be mentioned on a website for public knowledge. "In a month's time, we will conduct a survey on the trees, which we hope to complete in the next three months," he said.