Amritsar: Company Bagh requires effective pest management to save trees from rodents

Charanjit Singh Teja

Amritsar, February 22

Though the Municipal Commissioner and Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap have been making efforts to improve the condition of Ram Bagh (Company Bagh), in the absence of effective pest management, thousands of rodents are burrowing holes, damaging trees and paths. Ironically, some visitors at Company Garden regularly feed these rats, which helps to increase their population in the garden.

The historic Ram Bagh, home to centuries-old trees, now faces threat from a growing rat population. Many of these ancient trees, typically found in the Himalayas and Nilgiri hills, now face an uncertain future due to the negligence of the Municipal Corporation. The residents and visitors, concerned over the legacy and future of the garden, raised the issue with the MC officials several times. Some NGOs made efforts at their own level during the past year, but the garden needs some effective and regular pest management.

Advocate PC Sharma, a concerned resident, who wrote to the MC for pest management, said. “Some visitors put grains and other food item around the tree trunks, which attract rats. The rat holes surrounding the tree trunks can be seen everywhere. With each spell of rain, water enters these holes, weakening the trees and causing them to tilt even when the wind speed is modest. Administrative neglect has already resulted in the loss of over 500 old trees. Sadly, the MC never conducted inspections to know the number of trees in the garden.”

“The survival of these trees is ever more precarious in the current environment. Urgent measures are needed to safeguard the garden. Some boards should be installed to make the residents aware that offering grains and pulses to birds and insects near the trees attracts rats and which leads to damage to the roots of the trees,” said Sandeep Singh, a regular visitor.