Ailing Pillalamarri getting rejuvenation treatment

 Mahbubnagar: The 500-year-old Banyan tree at Pillalamarri in Mahbubnagar district, which shrunk drastically due to termite infestation on many of its branches, prop roots, and offshoots, is now being given antibiotic treatment through intravenous drip for its restoration.
  
This is perhaps the first time that a tree is getting such a great attention because it spreads across four to five acres. Having served as a picnic spot for over 500 years, the Pillalamarri tree suffered from termite 

The 500-year-old banyan tree has more than 1,000 branches, sub-ranches and large stem barks. Even today the agriculture scientists have failed to locate the main stem of the grand old banyan tree. However, the major barks having its roots exposed due to soil erosion and termite infestation, besides fungal infection, had collapsed. 

Realising that the old banyan tree is on the brink of extinction, the District Tourism Authorities have been undertaking many innovative measure to restore it. As part of this, former District Collector Ronald Rose had visited asked the agriculture scientists to take measures to restore the tree. “Pillalamarri is synonymous with Mahbubnagar district. 

It reflects the origin and historic background of the district. It is very important to protect this natural beauty. In view of this we have directed the Tourism and Forest officials to take all necessary measures to restore the tree to its original form,” said the Collector. 

As part this, the Forest and Tourism Department officials have appointed experts to “clinically” protect the gigantic tree. The expert plant doctors have been treating the plant by injecting medicines into the tree to kill the deep-rooted fungal infections.

“The barks and the roots are infected with fungus and fast decaying. Because of this the tree branches are becoming hallow and not able to withstand the weight of the heavy branches. For that we are injecting fluids into the branches to kill the disease-causing agents,” said Pandu Ranga Rao, DPRO and Tourism in-charge of Mahbubnagar district.

By providing treatment, the officials are expecting that the roots will secure revitalisation, and the barks will regain their strength and will become alive and give more branches and new barks. “During the past 20-30 years the tree has been neglected and its main roots have been infected with fungal infections. We are treating the roots and barks of tree clinically,” said the DPRO.