Caution! Watch for Falling Trees between Nanthoor and Kadri Chef Stretch

Caution! Watch for Falling Trees between Nanthoor and Kadri Chef Stretch

Mangaluru: When a hazardous tree in front of Maharaja Restaurant (near Govt school-Jyothi) on Bunts Hostel Road was chopped down by the MCC for safety reason, during which MCC Mayor Kavitah Sanil and MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer had assured that all hazardous trees in the city that pose danger to motorists and pedestrians will be cut within days. But it seems like it was just talk and promises- because if you look around the city there are quite a few trees which are on the verge of tumbling down. There are a few slanting trees on the NH 66 near Nanthoor Junction and few of them on the Nanthoor-Kadri Chef stretch which may anytime collapse. The slanting trees look most dangerous as they have grown old and now due to heavy rain or wind breeze they may fall to the road at anytime.

And for that matter, a couple of slanting trees on the Nanthoor- Kadri Chef stretch got uprooted this morning due to heavy wind and rains and fell along the road side creating fear among the motorists and pedestrians, and also commuters waiting in the nearby bus shelter. Even though a just couple of trees got uprooted this morning, but if you look at the stretch all along the border of the road there are still many such trees which could easily snap in windy and rainy conditions. Many of these tress are leaning/slanting on to the road precariously, and look very fragile and threatening, while some of the infected trees may also be destroying the roots. A couple of these trees have their roots protruding out of the soil, and they may be uprooted anytime, and fall right on the middle of the road.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, a police constable posted at the police check post cabin said, “When we noticed these trees fallen very close to the street, we immediately called MCC and within few hours help came, and they chopped off the branches of the fallen trees in order to clear the mess. Luckily the trees didn’t fall on us because many a time we stay near to the spot where the trees fell today, to inspect vehicles. We are worried that many trees above our check post cabin may snap anytime during this treacherous weather. Also, there are quite a few trees above the bus shelter which may also snap anytime. Hope MCC looks into it and do the needful soon, before any damage is done to motorists or human life”

Lately scores of old trees fell all over the city following strong gales, resulting in damages to vehicles and property. Most of the trees had no room for their roots to spread out and this led to gradual decay. In other cases, growing trees had their branches cut regularly on one side, because they leaned on to private property; the trees grew up lopsided and leaned far on to the roads. This means their remaining branches too were regularly being trimmed and they lost strength. The concerned authorities are expected to monitor a city-wide “tree census” to determine how many trees are really a danger to traffic or at risk of falling down during heavy rain and strong winds. Trees which are unable to bear the air pollution and decaying should also be identified. But seems like no one is doing their job right- and as a result we have trees come crashing down on vehicles etc now and then.

The problem with our MCC authorities is that they wait till the trees fall, and then only take action–like many trees had fallen due to rains recently. The safety of pedestrians and of all road users should be the first and most important priority for National Highway authorities and also local authorities and also for a State body that has a responsibility in this area. Some of these trees may have disease, which is a clear indication of root rot. Through this report Team Mangalorean is asking as a matter of urgency that these trees near Nanthoor Junction and also between Nanthoor and Kadri Chef stretch are inspected and that those that appear in any way dubious should be promptly removed, before they crash down resulting in injuries or death to motorists or pedestrians.

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