Hundreds of large and fully grown green trees in western Ahmedabad’s C.N.Vidyavihar campus are seriously affected by Nematode disease. If not countered well, this trouble would kill several hundred trees in this 70 acre campus which is like a lung of western Ahmedabad.

“Since 2001 earthquake, the campus is witnessing rapid growth in death ratio of trees. In last two years about 125 trees died in the campus, 25 of them died just recently. We have rule in the campus that any tree should not be cut in any circumstances. However when a tree completely dries up with its root, it becomes dangerous for children playing around it and therefore we have to remove them. We have removed such 125 trees and every time some more trees are in queue sadly due to deseis that has captured the campus,” Chandubhai Baria, Principal of CPed department told DeshGujarat.

“Initially Nematode affected Asopalav trees, then it started affecting Neem trees. Now this disease has also gripped Borsalli trees. Some trees have dried up fully, some other trees are in earlier stage in which they look green but without any luster or shine. The school and a group of tree lovers do what they can, but ultimately the scale of the problem is so big that we need Forest department to intervene for effective solution,” said Samir Shah, ex student of C.N. school and regular morning walker in the campus who is also member of a group of tree lovers who plant new trees in the campus.

When contacted, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Garden department head Jignesh Patel said he is aware of the issue and he also had visited the campus in this regard. Patel said the problem is big and trenches are being created around large number of trees for medication and treatment purpose.

It should be mentioned that on western side of river Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, only four major green areas are left amidst all concrete and asphalt. These are: Law Garden, University, CEE and C.N. campus areas. Therefore it is very important to save green cover in these areas.