No breather for trees choked by concrete
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NOIDA: Despite claims made by the Noida and Greater Noida authorities of having put in place guidelines to avoid damage to tree roots during pavement tiling, ongoing civic works show rules are being flouted blatantly.
While Greater Noida Authority has been choking trees while concretization of footpaths in Sector Gamma-II, Noida Authority is yet to remove the cemented portions from around tree roots in several stretches of pavements. Despite having made it clear through RTI replies that adequate space would be left around tree roots to avoid inflicting them a slow death, activists allege that claims have only been on paper.
In an RTI reply in December, Greater Noida Authority said that it sticks to a policy of leaving 90cm space around tree roots and 60cm space around roots of shrubs. "However, our survey has revealed that these norms are not being adhered to. Tiles are being laid right up to the trunks of trees," said environmental activist, Vikrant Tongad.
Given the alacrity with which the authorities in both cities have been going about concretizing tree roots, activists have been fighting a long-drawn battle with officials. "Earlier, officials had denied that there are any provisions under the UP Tree Protection Act to avoid concretization of tree roots," Tongad alleged.
Noida Authority, through an RTI reply in September, had clarified that it has a policy of leaving 1m space around tree roots during concretization of pavements. With constant pressure from activists, the Authority had directed its work circles to leave 3ft X 3ft space around tree roots during tiling or concretization works. The Authority had also assured that wherever trees have already been choked, concrete would be removed from around roots to avoid further damages.
Surveys conducted later by activists revealed that the Authority is yet to start a de-concretization drive in the city through a proper plan of action. Activists have alleged that the Authority has deconcretized roots only in a few locations.
While Greater Noida Authority has been choking trees while concretization of footpaths in Sector Gamma-II, Noida Authority is yet to remove the cemented portions from around tree roots in several stretches of pavements. Despite having made it clear through RTI replies that adequate space would be left around tree roots to avoid inflicting them a slow death, activists allege that claims have only been on paper.
In an RTI reply in December, Greater Noida Authority said that it sticks to a policy of leaving 90cm space around tree roots and 60cm space around roots of shrubs. "However, our survey has revealed that these norms are not being adhered to. Tiles are being laid right up to the trunks of trees," said environmental activist, Vikrant Tongad.
Given the alacrity with which the authorities in both cities have been going about concretizing tree roots, activists have been fighting a long-drawn battle with officials. "Earlier, officials had denied that there are any provisions under the UP Tree Protection Act to avoid concretization of tree roots," Tongad alleged.
Noida Authority, through an RTI reply in September, had clarified that it has a policy of leaving 1m space around tree roots during concretization of pavements. With constant pressure from activists, the Authority had directed its work circles to leave 3ft X 3ft space around tree roots during tiling or concretization works. The Authority had also assured that wherever trees have already been choked, concrete would be removed from around roots to avoid further damages.
Surveys conducted later by activists revealed that the Authority is yet to start a de-concretization drive in the city through a proper plan of action. Activists have alleged that the Authority has deconcretized roots only in a few locations.
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