NHAI, Neeri join hands to plant trees

Nagpur: Under fire from various quarters over poor rate of survival of trees planted, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has tied up with the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (Neeri) for scientifically planting trees. An agreement was signed by the two agencies on Friday in the presence of union transport minister Nitin Gadkari.
M Chandrashekhar, NHAI regional officer, told TOI that a 5km stretch of national highway near Jam would be handed over to Neeri for carrying out experiments. “The scientists will use different methods and patterns to plant trees over a period of five years. The one with the best results will be recommended to us and we will then replicate it all over the country,” he said, adding that Neeri would be paid Rs11.8 crore for its services.
Chandrashekhar further said that the main objectives of plantation along national highways were providing aesthetic enhancement to the project corridors, reduce impact of air pollution and dust, provide shade, reduce impact of noise pollution, prevention of glare from headlights of incoming vehicles, climate amelioration, moderating the effect of wind and incoming radiation and highlight sharp horizontal curves during night.
“The Indian Road Congress (IRC) has recommended some guidelines for plantation strategy and plant species with reference to agro-climatic terrains. However, most of these recommendations are quite subjective. However, the objectives are of specific nature and have their own technicalities and need meticulous planning. Therefore, science and technological intervention are crucial for achieving these objectives,” the NHAI official said.
NHAI expects that IRC guidelines would be utilized with the scientific and technical competent of Neeri under field conditions. Neeri will have to take care of the plantation for five years. Its task has been specified year wise in detail in the agreement. It will have to complete plantation before July 2017. In the fourth and fifth years, laboratory studies with field samples for data analysis had to be done. A large number of parameters will be studied including air purification, soil enrichment, water potential enhancement, ambient temperature maintenance and biomass generation. In addition to this, an ecological assessment will be done which will cover humidity build up, surface water runoff prevention, enhanced water percolation, biodiversity build up and microflora. The studies will be carried out in all four seasons.
BOX
* Neeri will do experimental plantations and study the results
* The objectives set by Indian Road Congress (IRC) are to be met
* Neeri will suggest the best pattern and methodology for plantations
* NHAI will do plantations as per the model suggested by Neeri all over India