Climate1 min read

Man uses 50-tonne crane to move 100-year-old peepal tree 2 km

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

In November 2022, Bharat Sisodia and his team discovered only six to seven feet of the peepal's trunk remaining before initiating a salvage operation. Workers excavated a six-foot-deep trench and softened the surrounding soil with water to safely extract the surviving root system for transport. The tree was shifted to a treated pit nearly two kilometres away, where it has since generated fresh roots and leaves. Despite this success, Sisodia has urged authorities to safeguard the site as Ahmedabad prepares potential bids for major international sporting events.

Key points

  • Urban infrastructure projects continue to pose displacement threats to mature trees even…: Urban infrastructure projects continue to pose displacement threats to mature trees even after successful relocation efforts.
  • Long-term post-transplant care and root preservation are vital components of the plantena…: Long-term post-transplant care and root preservation are vital components of the plantenance method used to revive damaged trees.
  • Conservation advocates are urging Ahmedabad municipal officials to harmonize rapid urban…: Conservation advocates are urging Ahmedabad municipal officials to harmonize rapid urban expansion with the protection of relocated greenery.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

When Bharat Sisodia reached a site in Ahmedabad in November 2022, he found that a nearly 100-year-old peepal tree had already been cut down. Only about six to seven feet of its trunk remained. For most people, the tree would have appeared beyond saving. But Sisodia, a tree-transplantation expert, wanted to find out whether its roots were still alive. He and his team dug around the remaining trunk, brought in a 50-tonne crane and moved the tree nearly two kilometres to a new location. After preparing a pit and replanting it, they continued caring for it. The tree has since reportedly begun showing new growth.

As reported by The Better India, the rescue depended largely on how much of the tree's original root system had survived. The team first dug a trench approximately six feet deep around it and used water to soften the soil so they could free the roots carefully. The tree was then lifted and transported to its new site.

At the new location, the team prepared the planting pit with soil treatments and nutrients to support…

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