Fingers should be kept crossed for the performance of the gigantic machines-known famously as tree transplanters-moving around Jharkhand so that trees are not mowed down in great numbers.
The Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change has initiated a process to hire and also purchase the machines to be used in the State for various State and National Highway projects besides, other infrastructural activities taking place. A decision to invite expression of interest (EoI) from well-established, reputed and eligible agencies to provide the services on complete job basis was taken a week back only.
"Experiences so far have shown that even globally trees not more than 14 inches in diameter have been replaced. Here as well we have put the condition before the competent agencies applying for the job. The Department is planning this on experimental basis and looking up to handle about 25,000 trees of different species from being chopped," said AK Pandey, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and in-charge of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
The machines would be deployed in transplanting younger trees grown up recently and coming in the way of different National Highways and State Highways, other roads and different other development projects in the State where substantial land is required to be diverted. The step is also in sync with the Jharkhand High Court directions where the Government has been told to look for the ways other than merely slashing trees as and when required. The court is, at present, hearing a PIl in this regard. The next hearing in the case is scheduled on Saturday.
"The Department intends to engage ten tree transplanting machines on hire basis and also willing to purchase two more. Since none of the machine manufacturers are from the country and even globally only three companies deal with such technology, we are even contacting the players personally. So far one player has turned up. As per conditions put in three weeks' time is mandatory and then if we get the only player we may go it on nomination basis," said a senior official in the Department requesting anonymity.
The Department, on its part, has also consulted experts and peeped through some studies available in the country. Apart from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun private companies such as JSPl, Adani, Essar, Gujarat Natural Resources limited have been approached.
"We have received some expert observations which point towards different physical conditions prevailing in temperate and tropical climatic zones. This affects greatly the root system of trees. Here in the State we have mostly large, full grown trees along the roads and elsewhere which may pose difficulty in the transplantation exercise," quipped an official.
The State Government's attempt to get a machine available with private firms for its testing in the local conditions has not been successful as only five such tools are available in India. One such tree translocator is available with Adani while two each are with JSPl and Gujarat Natural Resources limited.
Notwithstanding the challenges, the Department is hopeful that deployment of the machines through agencies that would be chipping in with all resources, including human, machinery and material resources, could pave way for the road projects in the State which are stuck in the want of forest clearances and also save itself from the ire of the judiciary that often reacts promptly to any such complaint about tree felling.