Trees being moved for BRT track

Experts fear relocation process could kill decades-old banyan and neem trees in city centre

KARACHI:

A Sindh government department is relocating about two dozen old banyan and neem trees from MA Jinnah Road to the Burns Garden to make way for Green Line Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) track.

Environmental and horticulture experts calling it a faulty process have demanded the Sindh government to immediately stop the process and shift the trees in a scientific manner.

The trees on both sides of the roads are being shifted by the staff of the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SIDCL). Most of the old trees from Gul Plaza to Jamia Cloth Market are being shifted to another location.

"At least 22 trees are being translocated not all seen on this main road," said Shafi Muhammad, the project manager.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad said that: "do not misunderstand it. They are not being cut but translocated to a safer place." He said that a proper procedure was being followed.

He also claimed that Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was on board in the process of shifting the trees from MA Jinnah Road. "The KMC officials are supporting us. They are providing us the technical support too," he added.

Contrary to Muhammad's claim, KMC's Metropolitan Commissioner Afzal Zaidi told The Express Tribune that: "we were not taken on board during this particular process."

On the other hand, the experts commented neither the time nor the process was properly adopted for shifting the old indigenous trees.

"This is not the right way to shift them," a senior official said on the condition of anonymity. "There is a scientific method of transplanting," he added, saying the KMC should have a machine for it. "The machine is not expensive. Karachi is a big city and this machine will help the KMC to smoothly complete the process," he explained.

Read More: Green Line BRT makes ‘soft’ start

Environment expert Afia Salam also commented that it was not the right season to shift the trees. "The ideal season is winter," she added.

Commenting on the shifting of old trees, a resident near NJV School, a local resident Muhammad Rustam said that he has been seeing all these trees since his childhood.

"I cannot stop them. It's state. They can do whatever they plan," he added.

Another resident, Mustafa, said that the construction for Green Line buses will remove all old trees. "I see no tree in this area during the hot weather," he said. "This will create hot environment in this area," he said.

Muhammad said that his company was well aware of the cutting and shifting of trees. "We have planted over two thousands trees at different locations," he claimed, saying more trees will be planted.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2022.