Drip tech to irrigate palmyra on Loop Rd

Chennai: After about 16 palmyra saplings on Marina Loop Road withered due to the recent heat, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has installed a drip irrigation system to keep the plants hydrated.

GCC officials said they placed four water tanks with pipes laid beneath the sand. "These pipes are tied to the steel enclosures housing the palmyra saplings. They will continuously drip water throughout the day. We have tied up with Metrowater to supply recycled water every day," said a zonal official from the Teynampet zone.

Over a 1.5 km stretch of Marina Loop Road, GCC had planted more than 100 palmyra saplings, but several withered due to the heat and inadequate watering. Hafiz Khan, an urban forest creator with Communitree, which has worked with the Tamil Nadu govt to develop green spaces in the city, said summer is not an ideal time for planting palmyra.

"GCC should have carried out the planting in July or Aug. Palmyra roots first need to grow deep enough to find a water source. During summer, no matter how much water is supplied, it evaporates quickly. The drip system will help, but we have to wait and see its success," he said, adding that once the roots strengthen, the trees typically thrive. Hafiz noted that if saplings are planted ahead of the rains, they require less care during the first four months. GCC officials said they have also deployed staff to monitor the saplings daily.