Kolkata: The state govt plans to buy or rent special tree spade machines to transplant trees instead of cutting them down.Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said the machine can lift a full tree with its roots and replant it elsewhere. The department is contacting Tolly Club to find out where such a machine can be obtained, as one was reportedly used there earlier.Paul said old trees that need to be removed for development work should be transplanted instead of being cut. She also said fallen trees, which are usually cut into pieces after storms, could be replanted using such machines. Similar transplantation has already been done successfully at Rabindra Sarobar.The government will also involve schools in making and distributing seed balls for planting.Paul added that JU, IIEST and IIT have been asked to study why trees in the city are falling even after light rain and suggest ways to prevent it. She said increasing concretisation may be affecting tree roots and weakening trees.
