The iron fences installed around trees to protect them are actually damaging many trees. While fences were installed to save saplings from damage,they have not been removed from fully grown trees. The growth of trees is now being stunted by these semi-enclosures. Rows of trees along roads in Panchkula can be seen suffering damage from the iron fences. In a few places,the trunks of the trees are bursting out of the fences. The fences are harming trees by reducing the space available for trees to grow. The Horticulture Department provided iron and metal support guards for the protection of saplings. These fences protect them from animals and passers by. The iron parts of the tree grate,that are being directly placed on the soil instead of a proper suspended frame are causing soil compaction and vertical compression of the roots,which increase chances of the tree being destroyed completely. A Chandigarh-based environmentalist said that the iron grills around the trees are penetrating the soil,which can have a negative impact on the development of the trees and can even generate an injury inside them. These fences sometimes even go into the stems of trees. Thus,abrasive damage increases and no efforts are taken to repair the damage. Thus,the challenge before the Horticulture Department,is to act before the damage actually occurs. Prof A D Ahluwalia,Dean of Sciences,Panjab University said that some space should be provided so that the trees growth is not hampered. The internal tissues of trees are damaged by the iron grills,leading to increased bacterial attacks. Experts recommend that the fences should reach no more than one-third of the height of the trunk,so that the development of the tree is not be hampered. Similar views were expressed by Parmod Sharma,the coordinator of Yuvsatta an NGO which holds campaigns to save heritage trees. Sharma said,The tree guards need to be removed once the trees grow as these are just for the protection of saplings. The fencing can damage trees if the space for growth is restricted. Meanwhile Ravinder Rawal,the President of Panchkula Municipal Council said that he would look into the matter and fences would be removed from fully-grown trees.
