Mahabubnagar: The canopy of the 800-year-old Pillalamarri tree has shrunk dramatically due to a termite infestation on many of its branches, prop roots, and offshoots. An alarmed district administration is in the process of launching an effort to limit the damage.
“The last time the tree was treated for termite and fungal infestation was about five years ago when Girija Shankar was the district Collector. But over the last few years, the termites have played havoc. See these branches with patches of termites, or that hollowed out tree trunk,” a caretaker points out the damage to the tree that sprawls over nearly 12,000 square feet.
The tree, which has been described as appearing like a forest, looks like a few trees planted close together rather than the thick forest. Nandita Krishna cites it as the oldest tree in her Sacred Plants of India .
Hit by water crisis
An acute water crisis has not helped matters, as out of the two borewells one has completely dried up and another has water only for about 10 minutes.
“The watering of plants around the tree in the garden has come to a halt. This has robbed the tree of moisture and might be affecting its health,” says a Forest Department official.
Incidentally, the tree is under the care of Tourism Department.
“There is also water problem in the area which we are trying to redress it under a new plan being drawn up at the behest of the district Collector. You will see a change happen in the next one or two months,” says district Tourism Officer Panduranga Rao, who is overseeing the care of the centuries old tree.
Future plans
The plan includes creation of year-round boating facility by adding a concrete flooring to a check dam which in earlier years used to supply water to the garden of the Pillalamarri tree.
The ticketed enclosure housing the tree is a money spinner for the Tourism Department as thousands of tourists and visitors from nearby areas flock on weekends.
The other attractions beside the tree are a mini-zoo and an archaeological museum housing artefacts transported from Poodur, Gollathagudi, Kalwakol, and Vaddeman in Mahabubnagar district dating back to the 6th century.
A manual of Nellore district has an interesting episode where a certain Chevi Reddy moves to the village of Pillalamari after he unearths a fortune of ₹9 lakh. And the god of the banyan tree promises him riches power and strength in war.
The prosperity of Chevi Reddy draws the attention of Rajah of Vorugallu (old name of Warangal) who also promises protection to him and his descendants.
Ironically, the same tree needs protection now.
Published - February 14, 2017 02:00 am IST
