Against world ratio of 61 trees for 1person, AMC census reveals city has only 6.17 L trees for its 60 L residents.
Not only are we tainted with a skewed sex ratio, our green cover too enjoys this dubious distinction. The tree census report of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), states that for its 60 lakh citizens, the city has only 6.17 lakh trees. This comes to a shocking one tree for every 9.72 Amdavadis!
The report, which is in final stages, indicates that the number of trees in the city increased from 3.48 lakh in 2005, to 6.17 lakh, primarily due to the inclusion of new areas within city limits.
However, inclusion of new areas has also led to drastic increase in population of the city.
To put this in context, we must remember that according to the global ratio of total trees per person, there should be 61 trees per person, but shockingly, Ahmedabad's score is negative with 9.72 people for every tree!
Giving the information, deputy municipal commissioner for parks and gardens, SK Langa said, "According to the tree census report, the Central zone with areas like Jamalpur, Kalupur, Madhupura, Girdharnagar, Dudheshwar, has the least number of trees at 30,584. The highest number of trees were found in New West zone with numbers at 1.38 lakh. West zone areas like Sarkhej, Vejalpur, Jodhpur, Bodakdev have second highest green cover with 1.12 lakh trees followed by South zone areas like Vatva, Isanpur, Lambha, Behrampura which host 1.05 lakh trees.
Langa said, "East zone areas like Gomtipur, Rakhiyal, Rajpur, Arbudanagar have around 85,858 trees and North zone has around 86,524 trees," he added.
Moreover, while the New west zone has the highest green cover in city, it has the lowest density of trees per sq km with just 775 trees.
While the city measures a total area of 466 sq km, New west zone consists of a majority portion of the city measuring 165 sq km, but is far behind in terms of number of trees per sq km.
During the census, cantonment area was treated as a separate section due to its green cover. However, quite surprisingly, contrary to widely held belief, the area is home to 57,875 trees, way short of what others zones of the city have.
Moreover, the report states that the average density of trees in the city is 1,300 per sq km.
Reacting to the tree census report, municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra said that so far, he had not seen the report and hence, was not in a position to comment on the issue.
Environment activist Falguni Joshi said, "This is one truth which had to come out. Figures speak for themselves."
Elaborating the causes behind this skewed ratio, Joshi said that for housing projects, environment clearance is important, and many of them do not comply with the conditions of planting saplings for compensation. "The rules should be made stricter so that each one complies with the rule," added Joshi.
Joshi suggested that common citizens should be provided incentive for planting saplings in their localities. It will help in improving green cover to a great extent.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}