The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in a unique initiative to protect trees from disease and enhance its area green assets launched a ‘Tree Ambulance’ for treating ailing trees and maintaining the green assets in the areas falling under it.

The civic body has customised an eco-friendly and CNG based Tree Ambulance which is equipped with two water tanks having 750 Litres & 250 Litres storage capacity and a high pressure pump with jetting hose, having provision for carrying equipment, pesticides, fungicides and insecticides in a bid to safeguard the trees of the area.

The NDMC area possesses rich green assets including approximately 1.80 Lakh trees. These ambulances will be used to treat the ailing trees with infestation of diseases, pests and termites. The hollow trunk of trees shall be provided a new lease of life through surgery and treatment by utilising the Tree Ambulance.

The procedure of tree surgery starts with removing the infected or hollowed out part, cleaning it with a brush, washing it properly, applying insecticides, fungicides on the infested portion and filling the hollow trunk with inert material like foam and covering it with chicken mesh followed by sealing it.

The team will be deployed on these ambulances for checking the health of trees and to attend complaints or reports received from field staff related to the trees in the area. The team will treat them for pest infestation, hollow or drying trees on a regular basis for need of treatment and washing of trees on regular basis.