CDA fails to replace new saplings removing mulberry trees

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to replace all paper mulberry trees, which are causing pollen allergy in federal capital with installing saplings over there.

Earlier, the CDA had decided to remove only those male paper mulberry trees which produce and shed pollen whereas the female trees termed harmless and would be retained.

An official of CDA said that the male paper mulberry was considered a major source of allergy which needed eradication but strong opposite views against the complete removal of this tree had also received from environmentalists.

He said removal of male tree would be taken up under gradual programme for replacing them with Amaltas, Kachnar, Jaman, Chir (pine) etc.

“Every year the civic agency launched a campaign against the pollen trees, mulberry trees and installed different fruits trees, saplings for the better environment, however they have failed to do so due to variety of issues,” said an officer of Environment Wing who wished not to be named.

It may be mentioned here that during the last two decades, the foremost civic agency of capital had chopped more than 40,000 paper mulberry trees; anyhow approximately 60,000 trees were still growing in the capital territory particularly in the National Park area where removal of trees was not allowed.

He said environmentalists were of the views that drastic cutting of the trees would result in the loss of greenery. He said steps were being taken for ensuring the ban on the use of polythene bags. He said that stopping the manufacturing of plastic bags did not come under the purview of the CDA.

In 2013 the federal government imposed the ban on the use, manufacturing, import and sale of non-degradable plastic products in the federal capital.