SMC mulls planting of 50,000 saplings this monsoon

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has started a tree plantation campaign in the city. SMC proposes to plant 50,000 saplings along city roads and BRTS routes and also distribute nearly 50,000 saplings to people free this monsoon season. The saplings will be planted in places where trees had got uprooted during the recent rains.
SMC garden superintendent S Gautam said, "A large number of plants and trees were damaged by the strong winds.Trees were uprooted at many places. We will plant tree saplings at all those places where gaps have been created."
The tree species being planted include Gelia, Borsalli, Kigeria, Bottle Palm, Kadam, Alstonia and Plumaria.
"These trees are durable and also beautify the areas where they are planted," Gautam added.
"These Indian species are green foliage plants with a sturdy nature. Birds will also benefit from the fruits of trees like Borsalli," said Snehal Patel of Natures Club, a non-government organization.
A SMC estimate had put the number of trees in the city at around 10 lakh. However, a tree census conducted in the state in 2011 estimated the number of trees in the city at about 3.25 lakh. Surat has a population in excess of 50 lakh people and ideally the city should have around 15 lakh trees, experts said.