MC to provide breathing space to all trees

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10

The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation (MC), KK Yadav, today issued directions to all executive engineers concerned of the civic body to provide breathing space to trees in whole Chandigarh by June 30 positively.

The Chandigarh Tribune had highlighted the issue “How the concrete and paver blocks are killing trees” in a report published these columns recently.

Yadav called a meeting of all executive engineers concerned to discuss and implement the urban green guidelines, 2014, in the evening today.

During the meeting executive engineers of roads and horticulture divisions were apprised that 70 per cent trees had been provided sufficient breathing space. The work on providing space to the remaining trees would be completed by June 30.

He directed engineers to follow the urban green guidelines for enhancing the green cover specially by planting right kind of trees at right locations.

While selecting tree species, the specified criteria should be taken into account, said Yadav.

Planting of trees along roads may be in such a manner, including avenue, group, mixed and informal planting of species, having long life should be preferred, he added.

Keeping in view the spacing of avenue and all type of trees government institutions and private organisations would have to consult the horticulture division and the MC, he said.

Yadav also gave instructions to plant trees having sufficient height on road sides. Perforated pavers must be used wherever possible for proper water recharge and to enhance green space, he added.

Yadav told engineers to strictly implement the green guidelines especially during digging for government or private purposes so that roots of trees were not damaged.

He asked engineers to implement aerobic composting in all green belts and parks of the city. “By June, 2020, all the horticulture waste will be turned into compost through scientific method and aerobic composting,” said Yadav.