WE love to ‘find’ magical solutions to our problems. However, there is little research involved in the process, and tall claims are made when these solutions are introduced. Karachi is not a green city, and in our zeal to make it look green, we imported euclayptus during the Ayub Khan era. It had neither flower nor shade, and was hazardous to the local environment. Years later, the trees had to be uprooted.

We did not learn any lesson. The next ‘magical’ solution was the conocarpus plant, which was imported and planted all over Karachi and later across the country. After 3-4 years of plantation, its hazardous effect surfaced, and it was banned in Karachi in 2016.

However, the plant is still flourishing and playing havoc to the local environment and infrastructure. Its roots penetrate some 100-200 feet beneath the surface and intrude into the water and sewerage lines, clogging them drastically. They also suck the underground water, hence depleting the already scarce water below the surface.

In fact, trees and plants provide fruits, flowers, greenery and wood. But this plant is devoid of any such benefits, and is rather toxic. Ironically, the plants are still being sold in nurseries all over the country.

Here arises a pertinent question: what were our horticulture departments doing while such decisions were being made? Either they were not consulted, or they failed to do their duty.

To correct their errors of the past, the horticulture departments of all the four provinces should immediately ban conocarpus plantation, implement the decision, and uproot all the existing plants.

Moreover, they should stop the sale of this plant, and, instead, encourage the plantation of local plants and trees, like Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Peepal (Ficus religiosa) and Barh (Ficus bengha- lensis) which are benign for the climate, and are beneficial to the environment.

Rajabuddin
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024