Parks wake up to rain loss

Parks wake up to rain loss
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The recent heavy rain in the city has uprooted four old trees, including a 125-year old in the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Similarly in Cubbon park, about five trees could not withstand the heavy downpour.

Java Fig (Ficus benzamina) was 125 years old that fell down near the Band Stand. The other trees included Blue Gulmohar (jacaranda mimasifolia) of 85 years old, cassia javanica of 65 years and cassia javanica of 40 years in Lalbagh. Nearly 15 small shrubs are also in the list in Lalbagh.

Officials at the Lalbagh have initiated measures to prevent further felling of trees. Dr Jagdish, Deputy Director of Lalbagh Garden has constituted a tree surgery guard.

The management has identified the vulnerable trees to remove dry branches besides providing stone slabs to provide support and rope tying.

The officials have also identified 120 species in the garden. They are planning to plant at least two plants of a single species. Plants will be procured in the next fortnight. Plants of 50 more species will also be procured.

Mysore Horticulture Society chairman Vasanth Kumar said that though the water had not caused any damage in the garden, it had created traffic problems at Lalbagh main gate near MTR as the water flowed from the West gate to the main gate.

Deputy Director of Horticulture of Cubbon park, M Venugopal said that the trees that fell in the park have been removed. New plantations are underway. Avenue trees and flowering shrubs have been taken up.

The civil work that had been taken up three years back has helped. The overflooded lake water was diverted via Bal Bhavan channel.