tree poisoning
tree poisoning tree poisoning tree poisoning tree poisoning Bengaluru: Environmental activists and residents of Vijayanagar have alleged that unidentified persons deliberately poisoned at least two roadside trees by drilling holes into their trunks and injecting chemicals, apparently to kill them and avoid the legal process required for tree felling.
Residents claim that neighbours had seen three individuals carrying out the drilling in broad daylight on Aug 20, though no official confirmation of those claims is available. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
An FIR has already been registered, according to the GBA forest wing. Chemical residue had spilled onto the bark, causing visible burn marks on the tree, according to him. Sonesh said he alerted forest officials after discovering the damage and later learnt that another resident had also lodged a complaint. Activists said they found white and reddish substances inside the holes and suspect they may be strong herbicides. Sudarshan GK, deputy conservator of forests told TOI , “The event has come into our light and we will take strict action.
The allegation surfaced after local resident and environmental activist Sonesh noticed an unusual yellowing of leaves on a tree near Hosahalli’s 9th Main Road. On closer inspection, he found around eight drilled holes, each about six to seven inches deep, filled with chemical substances. The exact chemical used has not yet been identified. Activists suspect the poisoning was aimed at gradually killing the trees so they could later be removed on safety grounds without going through the formal permissions. They say such practices are sometimes resorted to when trees obstruct parking spaces, building visibility or commercial frontage. After the incident came to light, volunteers undertook efforts to save the surviving tree. They removed chemical deposits from the drilled holes, flushed the trunk with water, replaced the surrounding soil and used activated charcoal and organic treatments in an attempt to neutralise the suspected toxins. Activists have now also requested authorities to prune dried branches that could pose a risk to the public and seek expert intervention to assess whether the tree can be revived. With the help of CCTVs available around, we will catch the responsible individuals and take action accordingly. Download the TOI App.
One of the twin trees at the location had already been cut down earlier, while the second remains under observation.