Kolkata gets poorer by 10,000 trees

Kolkata needs mega plantation work to get back greenery

MAY 26 (WTN) -  The Amphan super cyclone that ravaged parts of West Bengal and Odisha, has wiped out at least one third of Kolkata’s trees. Conservative estimates peg it at about 6,000 trees, though environmentalists say it could be as high as 10,000 trees.

Kolkata is a very densely packed city with high pollution levels. Among the major cities of the world, Kolkata has the lowest proportion of open spaces, parks and trees as compared to the population. But it had many beautiful streets lined up with large shady trees as old as 50-60 years. 

No amount of plantation can replace those treasures. When the 1999 super cyclone hit Odisha, the beautiful city of Bhubaneswar lost most of its trees and till today, the old environs haven’t been established. The famed cold breeze of the evenings that the city experienced has been replaced by hot, dry winds.

Most of the city looks barren compared to the pre-99 era. Perhaps it will take another 50 years for Bhubaneswar to get back its green glory. The same largely holds true for Kolkata. Once such a large swath of green is destroyed, it takes decades before new trees can really take their place.

It needs years of labour, planning, execution, monitoring, focus and funding along with the necessary support that can form an environment-friendly public culture before any formidable and effective cover of green can be raised in a big city. Will Kolkata be able to handle this challenge?