Industrial Area mango orchards in dire straits

Rented out for Rs 31 lakh for six years,the yield of king of fruits has also taken a hit due to poor management by contractor who got the lease in 2008.

One of the problems is lack of fencing around orchards due to which there is no restriction on movement within the area. A passage has been created within the green belt which is being used by residents. Vehicles can also be seen parked in certain areas. There are often complaints of wood being stolen.

A worker at the orchard says that due to lack of fencing,passer-bys can enter the area. “Especially during summers when mangoes are ripe,people enter the orchards to pluck mangoes. At times,they misbehave with us when an attempt is made to stop them. The problem has increased after the widening of the roads as the distance between the road and the orchard has decreased,” he says.

Another problem is shortage of water supply. While a tubewell has been installed,it is reportedly not sufficient for watering the whole area.

A city horticulturist says that over the years no effort has been made to adopt plant protection measures. While some steps had been initiated,these have also been halted. The trees being quite old there is a need for rejuvenation.

Councillor Pardeep Chhabra says,“Around two years ago on the demand of contractors,the Municipal Corporation had a wall constructed around a part of the orchard. The matter would be discussed in the civic body and efforts would be made to improve the condition. The green belt is of heritage value to the city and needs to be protected.”