Pillalamarri, the 700-year-old banyan tree is battling for its life. The tree, which is located in Mahabubnagar, Telangana, has been infested by termites and has now been put on a saline drip to bring it back to life.
Officials are trying to kill off the termites which have infested one of the tree’s branches. Pillalamarri or “Peerla Marri” is a huge tourist attraction, spreading across three acres, and is even believed to be the second biggest Banyan tree in the world.
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Dedicated to saving the tree, officials administered a diluted solution drip of Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide, at every two metres across the infested regions of the tree. The roots of the tree are also being watered with a diluted solution of the pesticide.
World’s second largest Banyan tree in Pillalamarri of Mahabubnagar district in Telangana is on saline drip as part of the rejuvenation of the tree that is almost dying.The tree is given treatment by injecting diluted chemical to kill termite population that infested it. pic.twitter.com/0ADu5jbAd2
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2018
“We diluted the Chlorpyrifos chemical and started pushing it into the stem by keeping holes, but it didn’t work out. The solution was coming back instantly. Later we started injecting solution like a saline drip. This process has been effective,” Mahabubnagar District Forest Officer Chukka Ganga Reddy told The Times of India. Officials now plan to build concrete structures to provide physical support to the tree and keep it from collapsing.
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Ever since the tree lost one of its branches due to the infestation back in December, tourist visits have been called-off as officials desperately try to rejuvenate the tree. Officials say that the tree’s condition is looking positive and is expected to get back to normal in a few days. “We are also planning to open the site to the public after discussion with the higher officials, but this time people have to see it from a distance away from the barricades,” Reddy added.
