Hyd urban body introduces permeable covers for trees on footpath, runs successful trial

The initiative will avoid open tree grates and littering in tree pits.
Hyd urban body introduces permeable covers for trees on footpath, runs successful trial
Hyd urban body introduces permeable covers for trees on footpath, runs successful trial
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The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has introduced permeable covers for trees on footpaths. Sharing a picture on Twitter, Hyderabad West Zone commissioner Hari Chandana said that the initiative is aimed at promoting water seepage, protecting the top soil from erosion and thereby ensuring better protection for trees.

Speaking to TNM, Hari Chandana said the covers have been put for trees around the 100 feet road in Madhapur covering a distance of two-and-a-half kilometres. GHMC says that the trial run was successful, the project will soon be extended to other parts of the city.

Around 50 trees have been planted in the stretch along Madhapur. According to officials, the concept is popular in countries abroad, and GHMC has been planning to implement it in the city for a long time. A Hyderabad-based agency is executing the work, with a liability period of two years. 1 metre is covered on all four sides at the base of the tree, at a rate of Rs 650 per metre.

“The technology used here is resin-bound permeable paving. This is a necessary solution for urban tree plantings. This will avoid open tree grates where people litter and throw waste. Also, hazards like tripping on footpaths and weeds will also be eliminated,” Hari Chandana says.

According to experts, resin-bound paving is one of the best alternatives as metal tree grates require routine maintenance, and are rather expensive to purchase and increase as the tree grows bigger. Resin-bound pavements consist of viscous, high-strength resins that flow around the aggregate pieces and glue them together. The surface is flexible, porous and resistant to cracking, and the material is easily cut to enlarge the hole around the trunk as the tree grows. The pavement material is usually not reusable.

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