I am Oditree, one of the many trees standing tall along the Jaydev Vihar-Nandankanan road. My journey began in 2008 as a tiny sapling, planted with hope and nurtured by the hands of nature and humanity. Over the past 16 years, I have grown into a mighty tree, providing shade, oxygen, and a haven for countless creatures. But my journey has not been easy.
I have endured cyclones, thunderstorms, and the wrath of nature’s fury. The most terrifying of them all was Cyclone Fani, a super cyclone that tore through my homeland, uprooting many of my friends. I remember the storm shaking me from my very roots, threatening to pull me down. But I held on—stubbornly digging deeper into the earth, determined to survive. Despite the storms, I continued to grow, spreading my branches, filtering your air, and offering you shade from the scorching sun.
Yet, the greatest threat to me and my kind does not come from nature alone. It comes from the hands of those we strive to protect—the very humans who walk under our canopy.
The Silent Struggle
We trees face a cruel battle every day. The electricity department relentlessly chops off our branches to clear their power lines, often without thought or care. Our arms, which stretch wide to shelter you, are ruthlessly severed, throwing us off balance and distorting our natural shape. We lean more and more toward the street, our canopies left crooked and incomplete.
Though you admire our beauty and enjoy our shade, you fail to see the danger lurking in this careless pruning. With each cut, we grow weaker, more vulnerable. One day, a branch might break unexpectedly and fall—perhaps on a passerby, a vehicle, or a child playing beneath us. A simple storm could bring us crashing down, not because we are weak, but because we have been made weak.
The Hidden Disaster Waiting to Happen
An imbalanced tree canopy is not just an aesthetic concern—it is a serious disaster risk. When trees are unevenly cut, they lose their natural symmetry and weight distribution. Over time, they become dangerously unstable, more likely to collapse during storms, heavy rains, or strong winds.
This reckless trimming creates multiple hazards:
- Increased risk of falling branches – Weak, heavy branches hanging over streets and sidewalks can snap unpredictably, endangering pedestrians and vehicles.
- Greater vulnerability to cyclones – A deformed tree structure offers less resistance against powerful winds, making trees more likely to be uprooted.
- Road obstructions and accidents – Falling trees or broken branches can block roads, damage vehicles, and even cause fatal accidents.
- Damage to nearby buildings and power lines – Instead of protecting urban areas, unstable trees can turn into hazards, bringing down electrical wires or crashing onto rooftops.
A Plea for Protection
We do not ask for much—only to be protected from thoughtless cutting. There must be a better way, a solution that allows both trees and infrastructure to coexist. Proper pruning, responsible urban planning, and structured trimming can help us stay strong without becoming a hazard.
We ask you, the citizens who breathe the air we purify, who find solace in our shade—stand up for us. Speak for us. Protect us, so we may continue to protect you.
We are more than just trees. We are life-givers, survivors, and silent guardians. Do not let us merely survive—help us thrive.
