Whatsapp messages on K. Syed’s mobile are almost non-stop.
The 39-year-old environmentalist is the go-to guy if you have a tree you do not want to kill, but transplant elsewhere.
Under the aegis of the NGO Osai and its president K. Kalidasan, Syed has transplanted 62 trees so far, 33 of them on Pollachi Road that is being widened.
Not just in Tamil Nadu, but now people from other states have enlisted his help to do the same. From June 1 to June 4, leading up to World Environment Day, Syed transplanted five of 500 trees on the Hubli-Gadag National Highway in Karnataka.
“Even Chief Minister S. Siddharamaiah witnessed the transplantation. The first tree was a 35-year-old Banyan that was moved 12 km. from its place.” he says.
Syed and his team of seven from Coimbatore, moved five trees in five days. “ Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H.K. Patil was present for the transplantation of all the five trees. I saw how the forest department, the police, the local administration, everyone came together to work on the project. When politicians will something, everything is possible,” says Syed feelingly.
Syed follows a ritual when transplanting.
“I hold the soil from the base of the tree ( thai mann ) in my palms and speak to the tree. I did it in Karnataka too. I spoke in Tamil and one of the officials translated my words into Kannada. I believe trees understand all languages.”
Syed says Karnataka officialdom transported the tree like a VIP with a convoy escorting it to its new home. “Not a leaf was plucked or a branch trimmed.” The officials told him that their State had gone up in stature because of this project.
“We also trained the trainee forest rangers in Karnataka in the procedure.” Syed is elated that now if roads are to be widened, he and his team are consulted. He identifies those trees that can be spared the axe. “But now we have to encourage people to provide spaces to replant these trees. The government does not have unlimited space.
So schools, colleges, factories and other institutions should step up and take pride in providing a home to these trees.”
Phone calls and messages continue to pour in from across the country from institutions and individuals who want to save trees from being felled.
“We document every step of the transplantation. And the social media has been invaluable in spreading awareness.” Syed refuses to speak about expenses.
“A single tree provides a home to birds, shade to human beings and cleans up the environment for future generations. How do you put a price tag to that?”. For details call: 084288-59911.
