Initiative to transplant roadside trees, to use industrial wastes

As part of its green drive, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated efforts to transplant big trees and use industrial wastes in road construction activities.

“We have already started two pilot projects in this regard in Haryana. The big trees will be uprooted and planted in other suitable location,” S N Das, Director General of Road Development and Special Secretary in the MTRHs, said during inauguration of 75th Indian Road Congress (IRC) here today.

Road Transport

He said only durable trees can be shifted from one location to another. “We have already inspected the particular machinery used in transplantation of big trees of 100 years old in Gujarat. Our officers are on the job,” Das said.

Stating that the ministry was working to reduce the number of trees being cut down for construction of roads, Das said plans were also made to include the expenditure towards transplantation of tree in the project cost of the road.

Inaugurating the 75th Annual Session of IRC, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “I would like to propose the IRC to meaningfully deliberate on utilisation of the industrial wastes such as fly ash, slag and plastic wastes in road construction. Every year Odisha generates more than 25 million tons of fly ash.”