The tree of life or nuisance?
This time of the year in the city has always been anticipated with trepidation by motorists as the procession of Ganesh idols for immersion spells traffic disruption. However, it isn’t just the slow moving heavy Ganapathi that is the problem; tree branches chopped to clear the way have been discarded by the side of the roads, constricting already narrowed pathways and forcing pedestrians into the mayhem as well.
While these branches weren’t much of a nuisance for everyone when still a flourishing plant, the Greater Hyderabad Muncipal Corporation’s (GHMC) initiative of chopping off huge branches to ensure smooth processions of the many idols has made it everybody’s problem. With workers leaving the branches lying around on pavements or by the corners of road instead of disposing them, commuters, pedestrians and residents have been inconvenienced alike, stalling traffic in pockets.
“First they just cut off a huge branch on the road behind Gandhi hospital and let it be there for a day. It was lying partially on the road. And now, further ahead on the same road, they have cut off many more branches and have left them lying around on both sides of the road,” lamented Abbas Iqbal, a resident of Padmarao Nagar. He added that the strewn branches have also made it hard for pedestrians to walk on roads which are already devoid of footpaths. Abbas also added that the problem gets compounded at night as pedestrians walking on the road can’t be seen by commuters from a distance, making the road even more hazardous.
Vishal Pratap Singh, a resident of Red Hills also pointed out a similar situation on the main road near the BSNL telephone Bhavan at Lakdikapul. “Cutting off branches is okay, but to leave them on the road is dangerous and callous. As it is, our roads are small, and those branches have been there for the past few days,” he said, adding that many more were also strewn on the road leading to NTR garden. The worst affected however are pedestrians. With no place to walk to the side of the road, they have been forced to walk in between traffic.
“The bus stop near my house in Padma Rao Nagar has also been partially blocked. And near my office at Lakdikapul, walking on the road has become very tough over the last few days,” lamented Tukaram Singh, who travels from his house situated in Musheerabad to Lakdikapul. The scene is similar at old city too, where discarded tree branches in areas such as Hussaini Alam, Puranapul and so on have been causing inconvenience to residents.
Aslam Bin Ahmed, who resides near Purani Haveli at old city, pointed out that with roads already choked during the Ganesh festival, the branches have created even worse bottle necks for motorists and pedestrians alike, forcing everyone to look for alternate routes.
When contacted, Y Ramesh, director, Urban Biodiversity Wing, said that the corporation has a shortage of workforce, and that the branches will be cleared off in a day or two. “The task is to be carried out by the sanitation department and us together. We have little manpower, but we will complete it,” he stated.