Fresh research underway with NBRO to identify non-risky city trees – CMC

• Problems started when trees identified as not risky began uprooting

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

A fresh research to identify non-risky trees in Colombo is underway by the authorities to determine the hazard posed to the public, as the recent inclement weather mostly lead to the collapse of trees that were not previously identified as risky, the Daily Mirror learns.  Commenting on the condition of the prevailing pre-identified risky trees in the city, a senior official of the Colombo Municipal Council said most of the tree falling cases reported lately were those identified as non-risky trees.   

When contacted CMC Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardena told the Daily Mirror a fresh project is underway with the collaboration of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) to identify the non-risky trees in the city.   

According to the Commissioner, most of the recently reported cases were that of uprooted trees due to the heavy winds and their condition was not old or decaying in the trunk.   

“Out of about 100, 000 city trees we have checked 1, 000 to find 500 of them as having problematic conditions. And 200 of these trees were identified as old and decaying high risk trees to be removed as soon as possible, task of which commenced since last October,” she said.   

Thus far the CMC with the assistance of the State Timber Corporation have removed about 160 risky trees from the roadside and public areas and about 30 more remaining to be removed.   

“The problem started when the trees not identified as risky either by the authorities or the public started uprooting and falling, thus we had to check the roots of the most non-risky trees for future hazards.   

When examined it was seen that most non risky trees that fell were barely holding on to the ground with few roots as numerous development and digging for pipe laying work etc. had damaged the roots of these trees. The NBRO assistance was sought to identify these non risk trees as a result,” the Commissioner said.   

When contacted an official from the NBRO said that they are initially conducting a visual identification research of the city trees that are suspected of posing a risk to the public and they are yet to file a report, which will require more time.   

The official further said special high tech machinery is required to run sophisticated research on the non-risky trees to examine their roots and underground condition.