The layout plan of the multi-billion rupee Zero Point Interchange would be amended to save decades old pine trees in front of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank, well-placed sources told ‘The News’ here on Wednesday.
Sources said that earlier there was a plan to cut down 173 trees that pose impediments in the construction of drains alongside roads being built as part of the Zero Point Interchange.
Dismissing the impression that the plan to chop down trees was shelved due to lack of required machinery, sources said that the CDA lacks nothing and the decision to this effect was taken solely to save decades old pine trees.
CDA Director General (Environment) Dr. Salman Sheikh told ‘The News’ that it was not advisable to cut down those old pine trees so some changes would be made in the layout plan of the Zero Point Interchange to amicably resolve the matter.
Sources said that out of the dozens of pine trees that otherwise would have fallen or relocated during the construction of flyovers and underpasses at Zero Point, the city planners have relocated only seven trees to pave the way for the construction of drains.
They said that the CDA has refilled the earth around most of the pine trees near Zero Point, which were to be relocated near the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Environmentalists and civil society activists raised their voice against chopping down of trees and staged protests to press the CDA high-ups to adopt environment-friendly approach in this respect.
A CDA official associated with the project said that the contractor has been mounting pressure for chopping down of trees to ensure smooth construction work at the site of Zero Point Interchange.
Dr. Salman Sheikh said that the layout plan of the interchange has been approved after thorough review of each and every aspect but sometimes changes are made in line with current requirements.
He said that drains would be narrowed and widths of roads would be reduced besides adjustment of various turns to save all pines trees.
Iman Hazir of Zimmedar Shehri, a local non-government organisation, said that these trees, planted 35 to 40 years ago, were an integral part of the living natural heritage of the capital.
She said pine trees need a lot of care as earth balls around their roots are so sensitive that a little bit of carelessness during their transplantation can cause a severe damage to their roots. Fauzia Minallah, a conservationist, said that the trees to be relocated must not be too large.
“It is really astonishing to hear about the plan to cut down trees which are 40 to 50 feet high. No expert can ensure survival of large trees after their relocation from original sites,” she said.
She said only two- to five-year-old trees could be transplanted successfully, while larger and older trees are harder to transplant without injury and suffer more from transplant shock. By Noor Aftab, The News International.