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from about 7.99 lakh to about 20.6 lakh. Thus,
intensive tree plantation drive and horticulture
development programmes should be taken in
94 villages under SUDA. The area around lakes/
ponds in and around SMC should be planted to
improve recreational value.
Forest Department successfully raised trees in
the campus of National Institute of Technology,
Surat over a period. In 2011, Forest Department
planted more than 50,000 seedlings at about
one and half dozen sites on the occasion of the
Republic Day. Major part of this plantation was
in SUDA. A block of plantation was also raised
in the campus of Surat University. The results of
these plantations are very good.
A large plantation was also done during the
Van Mahotsav in 2010 as a part of green Surat
Campaign. In this campaign, over 2.72 lakh
seedlings were planted in and around the city
and 1.80 seeds were planted in the intertidal
zone at the mouth of Tapi River. The industrial
areas in Hazira have been planted to raise
environmental plantation. As a result, most of
the industries have good tree cover, although
these areas fall outside the SMC. The coastal
forest near Hazira and mangroves at mouth of
Tapi River add to ecological value of the city.
Within Surat city, there are two very old and
large trees of Rukhada which were saved by the
local people when authority planned to remove
them to widen L. P. Sawani Road. Girth at Breat
Height of these trees were 10.4 m and 9.3 m,
respectively.
Conclusion:
Tree cover is very poor in the city.
It may not be possible to increase tree cover to
15% of geographical area but the canopy cover
may be improved by 10 % of the city area by
taking up intensive tree plantation. There is a
need to increase tree population by about seven
to eight lakh. Thus, about two lakh tall seedlings
may be planted in available space, along Tapi
River and institutional lands. Availability of
the land for planting trees may be problem. If
adequate space is not available, intensive agro-
forestry and horticulture should be developed
in peripheral villages.
Fig. 3
Very poor tree cover in Surat city
