Kolkata: Cyclone Remal has resulted in the uprooting of over 500 trees in Kolkata, marking the third-highest loss of green cover in recent memory, trailing only behind the devastation caused by Cyclones Amphan and Aila.
Cyclone Amphan left an unparalleled impact on the city’s vegetation, felling over 15,000 mature trees in May 2020. Cyclone Aila, which struck a decade earlier in May 2009, uprooted around 900 large trees. A Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) official reported that out of the 500 trees uprooted by Remal, more than 450 have been removed from roads. “We are still working and expect to complete the removal process by Wednesday afternoon,” he stated. The majority of tree uprooting occurred in five borough areas of south Kolkata, which are renowned for their greenery. From Ballygunge to the Behala-Joka belt, over 200 mature trees were uprooted within 12 hours of the cyclone’s impact on the Sundarbans. “We lost numerous mature trees in areas such as Ballygunge, Lake Gardens, Golf Green, Alipore, New Alipore, the Behala-Joka belt, and several neighbourhoods near EM Bypass. These areas fall under boroughs VIII, IX, X, XII, and XVI. In comparison, north Kolkata experienced less loss of green cover,” commented a KMC parks department official.
Tree-cutting teams deployed across the 16 boroughs were swift in removing fallen trees and branches, although waterlogging posed challenges in certain areas. “Our workers have been prompt in cutting branches and removing logs and leaves. With the weather turning dry on Tuesday, the pace of cutting and clearing was accelerated, allowing the civic body to remove 90% of the uprooted trees and branches,” stated official (MMiC) overseeing the KMC parks department.
In response to the significant loss of green cover, the KMC parks department plans to undertake compensatory plantation efforts. Officials will carefully select tree species, taking into account the soil characteristics. “Large trees such as Radhachura and Krishnachura require extensive space and their roots do not penetrate as deeply as needed. We may opt for species like weeping devdaru, which offer a broad canopy but are less prone to falling,” explained a KMC parks department official.
The swift and effective response by the KMC highlights the city’s resilience and commitment to restoring its green cover. However, the extensive damage underscores the need for strategic urban planning and robust disaster preparedness to safeguard Kolkata’s environmental assets against future climatic events.
