Healing a roadside tree

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A tree that was a victim of a daredevil act of a group of motorists has finally got a healing touch. It was the employees of the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL), concessionaire of the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP), who ‘dressed’ the worn out bark of a three-year-old ‘Peltophorum’ on the side of the Vellayambalam-Kowdiar stretch. Last week, a man had rammed his car into the tree in a bid to avoid hitting a bike involved in racing. The tree started leaning following the accident. The TRDCL sought advice from the Department of Horticulture on ways to heal the injured tree.The damaged portion of the tree has been dressed based on the advice of experts. The TRDCL authorities expect that the tree would get well soon.Another tree that had been ‘hurt’ in an accident on the Vellayambalam-Kowdiar stretch too has been dressed. The tree, which had been hit by a speeding tanker lorry, has been properly restored. The Kowdiar-Vellayambalam stretch is notorious for racing. This often leads to accidents. Several persons were killed or injured on this stretch. However, trees are often neglected. The TRDCL has planted around 3,500 trees in the city. It is responsible for nurturing the trees for the next 15 years.