Three trees cut on World Environment Day translocated by green enthusiasts in Udupi

The Hindu

05-06-2025

A banyan tree, believed to be 250-years-old, with a neem and a peepal tree located on Malpe-Thirthahalli National Highway 169-A in Udupi were brought down on the World Environment Day for widening the highway.
However, a group of environmentally conscious individuals of Udupi ensured that they were translocated about 20 m away from where they had stood earlier.
The trees were in front of Adi Udupi Higher Primary School on the highway in between Malpe and Karvali Bypass. The banyan tree especially was known to generations of school children.
The group with—Katyayini Rao, Gururaj Rao, Vijay Rao, Nihal, Gaurav Rao, Satyaprasad Kamat, Lucky, Lokesh, and Surendra Pandit—ensured that the trees were carefully uprooted, their roots treated with protective substances before re-planting. The operation, which required precision and coordination, was carried out by the locals with the help of experts.
Referring to the old banyan tree in particular, Katyayini Rao said that it is part of collective memory of many. 'We could not watch it vanish without trying to save it,' she said.
Explaining about the translocation process, Vijay Rao, professor of a pre-university college said that after relocating the trees, one kg of biozyme granules along with SSP and DAP were used for recovery.
Copper Oxychloride (COC), which comes in powdered form, was used for the damaged parts. It was mixed with water until completely dissolved, and then applied throughout the affected areas of the trees, he said.
Prof. Rao said that to support the trees post-translocation, the team will spray a water-mixed NPK solution (19:19:19) fifteen days later, ensuring it covers entire trees to promote their regrowth.