Measures the state govt has enacted have not been too effective, say experts.
Prosopis julifora, or Gando Baval as it is commonly known in Gujarat, is in a sense ‘gando’ (mad). It spreads over ground at an extremely rapid rate and requires no special environment.
While the state government has taken some steps to halt its spread, experts say these are none too effective and that its spread can be stopped only through scientific approach-based management.
According to Dr V Vijay Kumar, director-in-charge of the Gujarat Institute for Desert Ecology (GUIDE), Gando Baval has some economic value despite being a great threat to biodiversity. If it can be managed in a scientific manner, its threat to biodiversity can be minimised and revenue will be generated simultaneously, he said.
“There is no doubt about the threat Gando Baval poses to biodiversity. But it has some economic value at the same time. Its fruits are edible and can be used in various products as it is rich in glucose and protein. Moreover, it helps in reducing the salinity of soil,” Dr Kumar said.
But its growth needs to be controlled in a planned manner so that its dominance over other plants is removed. “It needs a planned management system with a scientific approach. We can utilise it for economic purposes, but not at the cost of our biodiversity,” he said.
However, Dr Ravi Jadhav, a former scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said there are many other species that can be utilised for economic purposes and that Gando Baval must be removed with the help of scientific research, which will enable its removal without the quality of soil being harmed.
“It is practically very tough to stop the growth of Gando Baval because if it is cut once, it will multiply manifold in just two years. The state has permitted its burning, but that has led to the charcoal mafia in the state. It can be killed by poisonous injections, but this can spoil the fertility of the soil as its roots go as deep as 80 ft,” said Dr Jadhav.
He said that there should be focused research at institutes such as the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, to find ways of removing Gando Baval without affecting soil fertility.
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