KOLKATA: The KMC has decided to remove all decorative lights from trees following protests from citizens and a section of environmentalists. The TOI had earlier reported on this menace, highlighting how owners of some restaurants and other commercial establishments illuminated trees to attract customers.
According to the KMC lighting department sources, the matter was discussed at the mayor-in-council meeting on Saturday, when mayor Firhad Hakim asked civic officials to prepare a list of errant owners of restaurants, cafes and other shops and ask them to remove the lights from trees. After discussing a strategy, the KMC brass asked officials of three departments — lighting, trade licence and parks — to coordinate with each other and conduct a drive to take down the lights. Accordingly, a team from the KMC lighting department visited several restaurants and showrooms in and around Chowringhee and asked the owners to remove the decorative lights.
A civic official, who is part of the team conducting the drive against tree illumination, told TOI the KMC teams had identified several major thoroughfares, where this practice had been going on for a long time. They include Shakespeare Sarani, Sudder Street, Camac Street, Wood Street, Sarat Bose Road and Purna Das Road.
“We will be conducting the drive in phases. In the first phase, we have asked traders of Shakespeare Sarani, Camac Street, Wood street and Sudder Street to remove decorative lights from trees. The next phase of the campaign will be for major thoroughfares in the Ballygunge-Rashbehsri Avenue belt,” said a KMC lighting department official.
According to Ranjit Samanta, a horticulturist, hanging decorative lights from branches or winding them around trunks did extensive damage to trees. “Traders who hang decorative lights from trees nail them to the trunks and branches mindlessly. This sometimes does irreparable damage to the trees,” Samanta said. This apart, birds that took shelter in trees at night were harmed due to use of excessive lights, felt Samanta.
“While trees do get illuminated the world over for brief durations during festive occasions, such as Christmas and Diwali, the perennial use of lights on trees is a nuisance. I am sure it is harming trees as well as birds,” said Biswajit Ghosh, a resident of Graham’s Lane. He has seen restaurants along Deshapran Sashmal Road beside Tollygunge tram depot take to tree illumination.
Bonani Kakkar of NGO PUBLIC, who had written to KMC on the issue earlier, welcomed the civic body’s decision. “Trees are public property and not a furniture or tool for use by a commercial establishment. I am glad KMC has taken note of this and decided to act on it,” she said.
