Kolkata received its first tree ambulance last week, becoming the first major city in eastern India to offer emergency care for distressed trees. The service is free in public spaces and operates through a toll-free helpline.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation launched the ambulance using funds from MLA Debasish Kumar, who oversees the city’s parks and squares. Built at a cost of Rs 12.5 lakh, the vehicle will be operated by a non-profit organization. Citizens can request help by calling 18001236219.
“This is a first-of-its-kind facility not only in Kolkata but also in eastern India,” Kumar said during the launch at Rabindra Sarobar. He added that the initiative follows recommendations from an ongoing tree census and will expand if demand increases.
Why Kolkata Needs Tree Emergency Services
The city faces a green crisis. Kolkata has warmed by 2.67 degrees Celsius over the past six decades, the fastest rate among 20 global cities assessed in the latest United Nations report. Forest cover dropped roughly 30 percent between 2011 and 2021, according to the India State of Forest Report.
The ongoing tree census reveals troubling conditions. In the 50 square kilometers surveyed so far, about six percent of trees show exposed root systems. Seven percent have concrete poured around their bases. Eight percent bear human-caused damage like nails or mounted hoardings.
Nearly one-third of unbalanced trees risk being uprooted during major storms. “Tall trees, unbalanced conditions and strong cyclonic wind is a lethal combination for the greenery of the city,” said Somnath Sen, a biodiversity expert formerly with KMC.
What the Ambulance Does
The service targets trees identified as highly vulnerable. “The ambulance is mainly mandated to respond to SOS calls for trees being uprooted, highly tilted and turning out to be a public risk, or storm-hit ones,” explained Sanjay Jaisingh, representing the operating non-profit.
Services include stabilizing affected trees, pruning, safe relocation, and treatment with biocides and fungicides. The team will work from a priority list compiled during the census.
Aniruddha Mukherjee, an environment science professor at Calcutta University, called the ambulance “an extremely important addition.” He noted that Kolkata has the lowest greenery among Indian metro cities and falls far short of WHO’s recommended nine square meters of green space per urban resident.
The census found just four trees per 100 residents in surveyed areas, with only 44,500 trees across 50 square kilometers.
Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.
Keep Reading
Small Wild Cats in Big Trouble: India’s First National Report Released
After Tragedy, Families Face Delays in Tiger Attack Compensation
Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.
