It has been a year since trees were pruned and cut across Thiruvananthapuram during the monsoon season, but the state government is yet to develop a scientific method to assess the health of trees and determine if they pose a risk. The new government may need to coordinate among relevant departments to protect trees in public spaces in the state capital. Currently, no single agency is responsible for managing urban tree cover. The city corporation and the Public Works Department lack expertise, while the forest department is often not consulted before pruning or cutting trees to prevent monsoon-related falls.
Need for Scientific Assessment
A nature expert emphasized the importance of scientific assessment of trees well before the monsoon, rather than taking last-minute measures. In the absence of a comprehensive government system, tree enthusiasts in the city have begun taking small steps themselves. Anitha Sharma of Tree Walk, an NGO, said, "We have started a small study of trees at risk and informed authorities about a dried branch of a jamun tree at Ayurveda College junction. They pruned it." She added that volunteers are instructed to monitor tree branches that appear likely to break.
Concerns Over Haphazard Pruning
"Haphazard mutilation of trees should not be done, and the government should involve an expert organization to assess tree health. Pre-monsoon checks should begin in January or February," Sharma noted. Pruning has already started in Kumarapuram and PTP Nagar areas. During last monsoon, after strong winds caused trees to fall, the disaster management authority issued a blanket order for government departments to prune or cut potentially dangerous trees. This led to widespread unscientific pruning and cutting across the city.
