Mumbai woke up to a terrifying and a heart-breaking news at the onset of this monsoon. A 11-year old boy succumbed his life to a tree collapse in Chembur while other kids narrowly escaped this tragedy. My heart goes out to the family and everyone else who faced this catastrophe.
Our city has been prone to tree fall every monsoon, more than usual lately. While loss of property can be ignored, loss of life should make us stop and ask this question – why do they fall? should they even be a part of this city’s infrastructure? what purpose are the serving us if they’re weak and destroying our lives, property? The most important question no one asks – is this a man-made or natural disaster? To understand this, we must first understand the anatomy of a tree. Trees are living beings like us. Except walking and talking, they do everything
we do.
Breathe, drink, work, produce, reproduce. A tree’s heart metamorphically lies in its roots – the genesis of its existence. Much like us, roots operate as the invisible life force directing each vital function of the body to deliver on its duty. Without the heart, the body fails. Without healthy roots, the tree fails
Contrary to popular belief, tree roots are typically found in the top three feet of the soil. In order to determine how wide and deep the root system is, one must look up at the tree’s canopy. Often they occupy an area two to four times the size of the tree crown! A simple solution at your level too, can help us co-exist with them in harmony. Creating tree pits or tree basins around the trunk base with soil enables the tree roots to breathe easily. Several housing societies have old trees in their own compounds. De-concretization of tree roots by creating wide pits (5-10 feet depending on canopy / crown size of mature trees) can help avert tragedies while enabling these trees to flourish.
Atree’s underground root system works to absorb water and minerals from the oil, anchor it to the ground, and store food reserves for the upcoming season. Sadly, this very function has been drenched in concrete over the years, creating an impossible wall to penetrate. Now imagine, a 100 year old tree with a canopy of 50-100 feet in diameter confined to a 5 feet space, half of which is covered with concrete – forever. Juxtapose it with our plight during Covid-19 lockdown despite having basic survival supplies. Trees also have physical, social and mental well-being necessities and as a city, we have failed them. Without trees, survival in this city with an already crumbling infrastructure with increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions, is unimaginable. A city which rowns with the first rain, swelters in the peak of heat, and starves of clean air needs to do much more to protect this nature’s gift.
From reducing heat and providing shade, bringing in the rains and harvesting its water, preventing floods and percolating stormwater to giving food, medicine and shelter to all beings alike, the boons undoubtedly outweigh the banes. As responsible Mumbaikars, we must do what is necessary to protect this city’s people and purpose.
By Dipti Agarwal, Founder and Chief Gardening Officer, Peepal, Resident of kemps Corner, Mobile: +91 74000xxxxxxx| Email: dipti.agarwal@peepal.one | Website: https://peepal.one/ | Instagram: peepalindia
About the Author
