In 72 days, tree ambulance removes nails, plastic sheets from 110 trunks

Kolkata: During the last 72 days since it was launched on Dec 5, KMC's tree ambulance service removed nails from 110 trees across Kolkata. This included eight century-old trees near the winter garments market at Wellington Square, where, after the recent departure of Bhutias, it was revealed that their trunks were badly punctured by nails and wrapped with plastic sheets. The tree ambulance removed these from the trees. "My first visit during last week, after a tip-off, was just shocking. I noticed many nails were hammered down to hang winter garments in front of these stalls," said Sanjay Jaisingh, a tree hugger and city-based tree transplanting expert who is also in charge of the tree ambulance. "Even for beautification of their stalls, some sellers wrapped up several tree trunks with plastic sheets, but unfortunately, during leaving the stall, they did not bother to remove it," he added.
The tree ambulance volunteers worked relentlessly to remove almost all the nails, followed by anti-bacterial fungicides to treat the wounds. The team also ran an awareness campaign among the few existing winter garment sellers. The spot visit on Sunday found that, even after nail removals, wounds and scars on tree trunks were yet to heal. Woollen garments seller Md Sanaullah Ansari, who came from Dwarka in Delhi and was still clearing up his unsold stocks at Wellington Square, said, "We were told not to put nails any more on the trees, and we agreed accordingly." The mobile emergency service for the city's ailing trees already provides diagnosis, treatment, relocation, planting, and public awareness. "The trees that were transplanted last year are now being treated and taken care of on a periodic basis too," said Jaisingh, who was now eyeing removing rusted iron cages that were badly embedded into the tree trunks, resulting in stunted growth. For this purpose, two angle grinders were purchased recently. The electric mini truck ambulance already contains tools and equipment like a tree pruning chainsaw, earth auger, brush cutter, water sprinkler, small and heavy-duty pumps, telescopic ladder, portable generator, helmets, rope, GI cable, garden hose pipe, carpentry tools, and essential garden tools. "We spotted some nails that were hammered on trees in Salt Lake's book fair ground and will do a drive soon," said a volunteer attached to the tree ambulance. "We are planning to make an awareness campaign too before the election season, not to damage trees by hanging campaign-related hoardings and banners," added Jaisingh. One can call toll-free number 18001236219 for assistance to distressed trees.