As soon as the State government brings the life to normal in Visakhapatnam which was devastated by Hudhud, it faces a Herculean task of managing with several thousands of trees uprooted or their heavy branches broken.
Thanks to the quick action by the police, Fire Service, NDRF, Army, Navy teams, including some from Odisha Fire Service and people on their own, the fallen heavy trees and branches were pushed to the sides of the roads but the question on everyone’s mind is how to dispose of them. Department of Botany of Andhra University, an institution which itself was ravaged by the very severe cyclone, offered a simple solution which appears to be very much practicable.
“Make the branches into smaller pieces and bury them where they have fallen or at a nearest place. Cover them with a layer of earth and they will turn into manure in course of time. Long and wide trenches on the AU Engineering College ground can be filled up with the fallen trees and branches. Vacant areas can be used for the purpose all over the city,” suggests HoD of Botany O. Aniel Kumar and Assistant Professor P. Balarama Swamy Yadav when The Hindu sought a way to dispose of the fallen trees. This method would save a lot of expenditure, time, fuel and manpower which are used if it is decided to transport them to a distant place to be dumped or burnt.
Prof. Aneil Kumar says that this suggestion will be forwarded to the Vice-Chancellor to be conveyed to the Chief Minister who has already started thinking ways to dispose of the tree trunks.
Most of the trees do not have commercial value and can be used as fire wood and this can be turned into manure.
Of tree and its survival (head)
Prof. Aniel Kumar has said that a fallen tree will survive if its tap root is intact. One rain is what all such a tree needs. The barren trunk starts to sprout again if its wetness remains for some time. Survival depends on the species of the trees also. But generally tap root gets damaged in the trees that are uprooted.
With thousands of trees damaged, it will take at least five years to get a semblance of green to the scenery of the city, which took lot of pride for its beauty before Hudhud.
“There are also species that grow fast and strong (to withstand a cyclone) and most of the trees that fell to Hudhud are plethoophorum which have been preferred due to their fast growth. But their root system and trunks are not strong,” says Prof. Aniel Kumar.
Trees grow slowly and those that grow fast are not strong and also take a lot of water, he explains.
He suggests some species of trees which have a reasonably fast growth rate but are strong.
The HoD says that raising plants under power lines was a big mistake that should have been avoided. Then trimming was not done properly and one side of the tree became heavy as only branches touching power lines are removed.
If branches are cut periodically and systematically as the tree grows, the tree would spread its branches and also its trunk would become strong. Consequently effect of a gale would not be much on the tree.
Laying underground cables is the only solution to avoid large-scale destruction of power lines, he feels.
Expert tips
Tap root of tree should be intact
It must get sufficient rain
Wetness should remain for some time
#Big mistake
Raising plants under power lines
#Trimming
It should be done properly
#Power lines
Laying underground cables is the only solution
