Aurangabad: Tree census begins at Himayat Bagh

26 April 2022

AURANGABAD: The tree census has finally begun at the Himayat Bagh with the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and forest department making joint efforts to prepare the necessary registry of unique green-cover at the Mughal-era garden.

The census — which also has the participation of NGO Umbrella Welfare Foundation and students of MGM College of Agricultural Biotechnology — is expected to last around two weeks.

The TOI, had carried multiple reports highlighting the inordinate delay in carrying out the tree census at Himayat Bagh despite directives from the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court.

Vijay Patil, in-charge of the garden department of the AMC, said every tree, shrub, creeper and climber at Himayat Bagh would be documented. “We will be also determine the age of the trees using the established methods. It will help us in giving a heritage tag to old trees,” he said.
The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought biodiversity and heritage tags for Himayat Bagh under relevant laws, had asked for declaring the old trees at the garden as heritage trees.

As per the amended Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Preservation and Protection of Trees Act, 1975, many trees at Himayat Bagh that are over 50-years old are entitled to the heritage tag, which would lead to their scientific conservation

Sonservationist Waseem Quadri said the successful conduct of the tree census would prove to be a milestone in conservation of Himayat Bagh. “The official registry of trees will be of immense benefit in protecting the green cover. It will also help in fighting the ongoing legal battle,” he said.