Banyan tree replanted in Udupi, gets new lease of life
Udupi: For the first time in the city, a huge 40 to 50-year-old Banyan tree which uprooted due to the strong winds was shifted from Bannanje to the MIT campus where it was replanted on Monday, August 21. The initiative was taken by the Manipal University along with Rotary Club Manipal.
The tree which uprooted due to strong winds last month on the Old DC office Road near Bannanje got a new lease of life by replanting it. The tree was shifted on a huge container truck using cranes and later taken to MIT Manipal where it was replanted in as 17 by 18 feet deep pit.
Speaking on the occasion Dr G K Prabhu of MIT said that it was a great day for us because MIT Manipal has given a new lease of life for a Banyan tree which is the national tree. MIT is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year and has planned to plant saplings of various species on the campus. We have already planted 700 saplings in our Vajra Vana campus. This initiative sends a message that all citizens should protect the environment. We are also planning to plant Banyan tree saplings on our campus but it takes many years to grow. Today, fortunately, we got the chance of replanting the Banyan tree on our campus. Once this tree will start growing, we will build a stage around the tree to organise programmes.
A rotary club volunteer said that this was the biggest ever tree that we have transplanted. Saving even a single tree is like giving new life to the city. Patronising transplantation of trees is a great service to the society. Hundreds of people are worshipping the Banyan tree. Thus, giving it a new lease of life is nothing but true worship, he added.
Clifford Lobo Udupi RFO said that the tree had uprooted due to heavy rain and winds. We had planned to shift the tree to our depot. But on Friday the Rotary Club Udyavar approached us and asked permission to replant the Banyan tree. We happily agreed since the department could not afford the expenses of replanting the tree from one place to another. The Forest department will plant other saplings in the same place he added.
Same way, before 5 to 6 years, In mangaluru near circuit house MCC had replanted a tree (circle widening work) and they could not save it. Later MCC had planted new sapling in the same place