VIJAYAWADA: Are you in a dilemma since you plan to construct a house but you have to chop down the tree you love the most? Do not worry since AP Urban Greening and Beautification Corporation ( APUG&BCL), which excels in tree transplantation techniques, has the solution to your problem. One can shift their tree for a certain amount of time and shift it back to their house after the construction.
One need not cut trees for any kind of developmental activities since authorities can take care of the tree and transplant it back to the former location. One can also get a tree of their choice, rather than plant a sapling and wait for it to grow into a tree. For every issue related to trees, the solution is ‘Tree Transplantation’.
Tree transplantation is a procedure that has also made inroads into Vijayawada. Recently, an MLC used this procedure to save trees in his constituency from road widening works. Asia’s largerst nursery, Kadiyam nursery is implementing this procedure on many varieties of trees including coconut plantations.
Palla Venkatesh who own’s Sri Satyanarayana (Kadiyam) nursery, said, “Any tree can be transplanted and can be saved. An uprooted tree could also be saved through transplantation if its roots have not lost their moisture and the root ball remains intact.
Though survival can be assured to any kind of tree of any age, only trees that are below 10 years can bear fruits. Trees aged 5-10 years are likely to flourish after a transplantation, but those that are over 20 years old may not be able to adapt to the new environment.”
He further said that the transplantation should be done in a phased manner. Also periodically, growth promoters should also be induced to the trees. Post-transplantation, it should be ensured that the roots always remain moistened with regular watering. Fertilisers, pesticides and even bio-manure should not be applied till the roots get a firm anchorage in the new soil.
Trees such as mango, peepal, coconut, jackfruit, sapota can be considered for transplantation. However, transplantation is certainly a costly exercise. Transplantation of a young tree costs `2,000 where as transplanting an old and huge tree can cost anywhere between `10,000 and `70,000 approximately.
The Urban Greening and Beautification Corporation is also planning to bring tree banks across the State where trees on the road sides can be transplanted in a designated area and later be shifted to places in need.