A BAN is set to be imposed on importing, selling and planting a species of trees which have been blamed for wrecking underground water pipes and electricity cables.
The Northern Municipal Council unanimously decided, at its weekly meeting yesterday, to stop people from planting Conocarpus trees due to the destructive power of their roots. The same issue will be debated at parliament’s weekly session today.
The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry told MPs in writing that it was already working to remove the trees from public parks and gardens, and roadsides.
The Conocarpus tree is common in the GCC because it can cope with the hot and arid conditions.
Northern Municipality director-general Lamya Al Fadhala said the tree’s roots run deep and can cause damage to roads, buildings, sewage networks and could even destabilise lampposts.
“Most of those who have planted the tree in their homes have regretted it and the ministry is working to ban it,” she said.
“We need to raise awareness among the public and start a campaign against the ‘devilish’ tree on all our social media accounts.
“Since the 1990s asthma has increased by 50 per cent because of this tree besides other illnesses that it may have spread and we are working to clear it from wherever it is found.”
However, council technical committee chairman Abdulla Al Qobaisi said the tree had its positive traits and qualities that other trees don’t and the ban should be only in populated areas.
“The tree absorbs dust and could be planted in the desert and the ban should be only in residential areas.”
However, his colleague Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie opposed the move and said there were other alternative trees that could be planted.
The GDN highlighted the issue for the first time in 2008 as former councillors in the Central Municipal Council urged people to stop planting it because of its invasive root system.
Council services and public utilities committee chairman Mohammed Al Dhaen agreed that the tree harboured great potential to damage houses because of its strong roots.
“While reaching for water sources it affects anything that comes in its way,” he said.
“This tree will cost people and the government a fortune by destroying houses and buildings, besides other infrastructure.”
Conocarpus trees are dense multiple-trunked shrubs or small to medium-sized trees from one metre to 20m tall.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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