On its deathbed, neem tree gets A Healing Touch
A 60-year-old neem tree in central Delhi was saved from sure collapse by timely intervention. It will live on for over 20 years
Neha Lalchandani | TNN
Collected & Source: Times of India
The operation went on for almost three hours but the doctors were happy with the outcome. Despite a massive insect infestation that had gnawed away its innards and a recent fracture, they believe the patient will make a full recovery and will probably live on for another 20-30 years. The 60-yearold Neem tree at the juncture of Lodhi Road and Bhishma Pitamah Marg has been given a new lease of life. Its growth stunted as it struggled to survive Delhi’s harsh environment, and its roots suffocated by the tightening noose of concrete around its base, the tree was almost split into two as a huge branch was ripped off in a thunder squall last week. MCD asked the NDMC tree ambulance for help, which decided that an immediate “surgery” was needed to save the Neem.
Since it started operating in Delhi, the tree ambulance has saved a few hundred trees in the city, most of them in the NDMC areas. More than 50 trees have been operated upon, a procedure in which old and usually hollow trees are treated, packed with flexible material and sealed so that they may grow back. On Tuesday,
the joint operation by NDMC and MCD started around 10.30am in which first the broken branch was removed and then the tree treated for its
termite infestation. “The tree was very sick and would have eventually collapsed. First, we hacked out the termite infested part. The wood actually crumbled when we touched it. Once the major portion was removed manually, we hosed it with water jet to clean it completely,” said Kaushik.
Once rid of the pests, the inside of the trunk was washed with chloropyriphose, an insecticide. Then the cavity was painstakingly filled with foam, thermocol and cotton to provide support to the trunk. These were then secured using a wire mesh. “These materials were chosen as they provide support and sufficient flexibility to the tree. Wood will start growing back within the next 10 days, and as the trunk heals, these materials will be squeezed inward without any resistance. In earlier operations we used hard materials but realized that it did not leave the tree with any flexibility,” added Kaushik.
Finally, the materials were sealed with plaster of Paris and the fallen bark was pressed back into place. This was then secured using strips of hessian. The exposed part from where the branch had broken off was also sealed with PoP and then covered with an additional layer of cement to prevent water from going in.
Suhas Borkar, founder member of Green Circle of Delhi, who reported the case to authorities, says that it is not surprising for trees to collapse. “Pollution levels are rising, groundwater tables are falling and the trees are being allowed no space to breathe. Greening guidelines provide for adequate space of at least 6 X 6 feet has to be left around trees while cementing or tiling. Horticulture departments in all civic agencies should have tree disease and surgery units. None of these guidelines are being followed and Delhi’s trees are in poor shape.”
NDMC & MCD staff first sawed off termite infested part of the trunk and then hosed it with water. The cavity was then treated with insecticide and painstakingly filled up with foam, thermocol & cotton
Cavity was then sealed with plaster of Paris and cement, and bound with hessian strips in the end
