Nailing trunks for free advertising killing trees
Gurvinder Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 16
Posters and flexes nailed on tree trunks dot the city in the absence of any check by the authorities concerned. The practice is gradually killing these trees, say environmentalists. Members of a city-based NGO have written to the state government, seeking immediate curbs on this practice. “Green cover is already facing various environmental challenges. On top of this, the practice of nailing posters on tree trunks for advertising is gradually killing trees,” says Dr Amandeep Singh Bains, from RBS Roots, an NGO working for the conservation of environment.
When nails are inserted in a tree trunk, channels taking water to branches are damaged, which affects its growth. The practice is rampant in Punjab and the government needs to come up with strong punishment and action against erring persons, he said.
Not just on streets, trails of such posters is also a common sight on highways. This is illegal both from the standpoint of advertising, causing loss of revenue to the government, and damage caused to trees, said Sarabjit Singh, a resident.
When asked about the impact of nailing on posters on trees, Dr RIS Gill, Head, Department of Forestry, PAU, said if nails were inserted deep in tree trunks, these could cause harm to trees. Food and water vessels were damaged, which affects growth of the trees. Moreover, nailing can cause harm to trees in other ways, as the damaged part can get rotten and the surrounding tissues may become dead, he said.
The government needs to seriously look into the matter and put an end to this practice, which is harming the environment, Dr Bains said.
