Fear in Mango belt

Around 35.405 hectares of land of Dashehari,Salempur Pattura,Sikrori and Raipur villages on the outskirts of the city have been earmarked as the land filling site for the Urban Solid Waste Disposal Project of Lucknow.

The Mother Tree,goes the folklore,is the mother of all Dashehari mango plants. According to a souvenir published by the Department of Horticulture in 1974,the tree was 150 years old then,making its age around 185 years now. Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (CISH),Lucknow,claims that the tree’s yield has been consistent,ranging between 79-189 kilos in the last eight years. This tree falls in the land earmarked for the project. Rather,Dashehari and the nearby villages,all of which fall in the Malihabad-Mall mango belt of the state,have been earmarked for the project way back in 2008.

While some of the villagers were ready to sell their land in the area if offered a decent amount,most orchard owners and small farmers are unwilling to part with their land. “Even those who were interested in selling the land are having a second thought as the government is not offering them the right amount. But orchards owner like me,who have inherited the property,are not ready to give up the land even if they offer us money at the present rates of land,” said Sameer Zaidi,owner of 2.36 hectares of orchard in Dashehari which falls in the project area. The mother tree also stands in his orchard.

The state government,however,is keen to start the project in the area,fearing the loss of Rs 10 crore that came for the central government as a first installment for the project,which could be taken back if it remains unutilised till the end of this year. The entire project is worth Rs 42.92 crore and the Centre is to bear half the cost of the project.

After farmers objected to the project,a state-level environment committee comprising members of CISH and Department of Horticulture was formed to gauge the project’s impact on the mango belt. A public hearing was also held in the village by UP Pollution Control Board.

While the environment committee,which met on Monday,could not come to any conclusion,the officers of Jal Nigam maintain that the project is harmless for the mango belt.

While talking to The Indian Express,P K Bhukesh,Director,Construction and Design Services,UP Jal Nigam,said: “There is no danger from the construction of landfill site at Dashehari village. On the contrary,it (the project) will generate Carbon Dioxide that will enhance plant growth and yield. In the land fill design,every precaution has been taken to avoid leakage of leachate and uncontrolled escape of landfill gases. Excess methane gas would be flared.”

The CISH report,however,clearly mentions that the proposed site should be shifted 3 to 4 km away from the periphery of mango belt. “The mango plants are very sensitive to soil,water and air pollutants and heavy metal contaminations¿the decomposition of wastes during composting process may result in major ions such as potassium,calcium,magnesium,iron¿and trace elements like zinc,copper,nickel,lead,etc,” it states.

“The municipal solid waste are the habitat of a number of micro organisms including flies and other insect pests which multiply during storage and composting process and may result in outbreak of new insect pest and disease problems to the mango orchards,” the report states further.

“We realise that the issue of mango belt is sensitive. But the solid waste management project is also very important. We have not yet been able to firm up our decision and have asked the Jal Nigam for further clarifications. We will take care that no harm is done to the mango belts of the area,” said Yashpal Singh,Director,Environment.

The environment directorate has also asked the Jal Nigam to conduct a fresh survey of the project site and identify the mango trees. There are around 2,200 mango trees in the area. “We will ensure that the orientation of the structure is in such a way that the trees are not cut,” said Bhukesh,adding that only the old and non productive trees would be chopped off.

The authorities also claim that the mother tree would be safeguarded. “None of my trees are old or unyielding,” said Zaidi,adding: “If they are not planning to fell the mango trees,why do they have to acquire the orchards at all?”

Very harmful: veteran grower

Kalimullah Khan,the veteran mango grower who was conferred a Padma Shri for mango cultivation and grafting in 2008,said: “A solid waste management project at a place which falls in a fruit belt is completely unjustified. The project will severely affect the orchards in the area. The government is misleading the people by saying that the project will be harmless for the orchards and the agricultural land.”

“Apart from several environmental affects,the disposal plant will increase the temperature of the area. The water level has already dipped in Lucknow and with increase in temperature,the mango trees and all other vegetation in the area will face water crisis and may even dry up. The famous mother Dashehari tree is already facing scarcity of water and one can see its branches wilting.

“Moreover,it has been seen that with rise in temperature,the mango fruits blacken and the whole plant may decay. The taste of the fruit will also change. Also,even if the gases that come out of the disposal project are not allowed to escape in the atmosphere and they remain in the land,their acidic nature will definitely be transferred to the land,” said Khan,who owns one of the prominent mango orchards in Malihabad. ens