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Italy has become famous for its beautiful buildings and atmosphere, and Pisa is famous for its 'Leaning Tower', once considered to be a 'Wonder of the World'. Bangalore, not to be out done has come up with its own attraction, 'The Leaning Trees'. I am always amazed at the way the linesmen and police trim the trees without any scientific thought as to how the tree is going to survive. Many of the so called 'culled' as I say or 'pruned' as they say, has fallen by the roadside. Blame is always pointed out that the roots are very shallow and cannot support the tree. A blind eye is given as to how the tree is balanced after it has been trimmed for coming under the power lines or in the way of traffic. No fault of the poor tree, except that there are irrational people who just have no consideration to the future of Bangalore's environment. Mr. Cableguy, comes along and digs his way around the roots of the tree, next comes another Mr. Cableguy who does the same only from a different angle, then comes Mr. Linesman who digs around for some underground cable which is separate to the overhead cables. The comes Mr. Sewage man, who digs for his sewage pipes, and later after has finished up and laid the footpath uneven, along comes Mr. Water man, who decided that the water pipes need top be changed, and so he digs in-between the cables and pipes. Now what happens, the soil around the roots of the tree have become loose because of the digging around, and when this done more than a few times, then the tree base looses its grip on the soil, looking up at the branches, one sees that they have been lopped off only on one side to avoid touching the power lines, and the tree begins to lean to one side because of the uneven counter balance. It does not take anyone with a degree in horticulture to tell you that this has made the tree unstable and common sense will tell you that it will fall at the next monsoon and gust of wind. Such is the state of the trees in Bangalore, and here are a few photos o the "Leaning Trees of Airport Road'. I have seen a similar sight on Museum Road, it's scary to think that so many children play and stand under these trees. Of course, there are some trees that even though they have been cut to the trunk, have tried to survive and small branches sprout out like the tree on St. Mark's Road - Museum Road junction, that has survived the axe. There are a row of trees on the Lower Agram Road, that have fought back in falling on the Army barracks, and some stubbornly resist the chops of the woodcutter. It reminds me of a poem I once heard ... 'How many chops would a wood chop chop if a wood chop could chop wood!' or something like it, because one can see at least 20 people trying to cut one tree with axes and saws, and they have even taken a long break because of the resistance.
Ron's e-mail: Ronnie 1
(or) Ronnie 2
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Thought for the Day: " Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers to the false prophets." Holy Bible: Luke 6:20-26