Udupi/M’Belle: Suresh and Navin-Felling risky and dangerously located trees their profession

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 28 Nov 2015: When expert coconut tree climbers to pluck coconuts are rare, it is extremely difficult to find experts to cut down the overgrown and tall coconut trees which are risky or dangerously located close to the house or precariously and strategically situated in the midst of neighbouring houses. Cutting down such coconut trees requires not only expertise to climb the trees but also daring, precision, alertness and balance to chop off the palms and cut the trees in three or four pieces starting for the top depending on the height of the tree. Such experts are very few and those who practice this trade earn handsome amount as this profession involves a lot of risk not only to the lives of the experts but also to the houses over which these trees are bent or located very close to houses.

When I had to remove a tall coconut tree which was located very close to my house, fortunately I could find a team of two  experts with the help of Elias D’Souza, proprietor of Civitech Engineering. The duo team, Suresh aged 48 years from Katapadi and Navin, 39 years from Achchada, Shankarpura came for the survey of the location of the coconut tree on the previous  day and arrived early in the morning of the next day with ropes, large sized pointless straight sickles and  mechanical saw to cut down the nearly 100 year old coconut tree.

Navin, being younger of the two and more agile climbed the coconut tree and reached the top with a thin rope. Having reached the top he perched on a make shift stand tied to the tree, plucked the coconuts and one by one began chopping the palms.

Having cleared the top of the tree of coconuts and palms, Navin heaved a thicker rope attached to the end of the thinner one from below by Suresh and tied the edge of the thicker rope to the top of the tree. The next task of Navin was to slide down around 7-8 feet and chop the upper portion of the tree with a heavy sickle as Suresh held the rope away from the tree. After chopping off sufficient pulp of the tree, Suresh pulled the rope while Navin gave a gentle push to the top portion of the tree which  fell to the ground along with the rope.

Once again Navin tied the thick rope to the top of the remaining tree, slid down to equal distance and made a dent in the tree with the help of the machine saw while Suresh held the rope below and the second piece of the tree was knocked down. This action was repeated again for the third time and the tree was reduced in height by chopping off the upper part of the tree in three parts.

Having confirmed that the remaining tree would not fall on any other structure or live electric wires passing nearby, Navin climbed down securing the rope to the top of the remaining part of the standing tree while Suresh began cutting the bottom of the tree with the machine saw. Within short period the entire coconut tree was felled. The entire process of cutting down the coconut tree was completed within 45 minutes.

Having witnessed the daring, meticulous and precise work of both Suresh and Navin, I was curious to find out more about these two expert tree cutters.  When I asked Suresh as to why he chose this profession, he said that right from his school days he was interested in climbing trees. He studied up to seventh  standard in Kasargod where his family originally resided. Later, his father migrated to Katapadi and settled down there. He first began climbing areca trees when he was in sixth standard and gradually began to climb coconut and other trees. As he gained confidence, at the age of 17, Suresh took up the task of cutting down coconut trees located in precarious positions especially close to houses.

Suresh sought the help of other youngsters who got sufficient training in cutting trees and later they formed their own teams but could not achieve success and eventually gave up.

The profession of cutting down the overgrown coconut or other trees is not free from danger. Six years ago Suresh met with an accident as he fell from a height of 30 feet while cutting the coconut tree. He was hospitalized for 15 days and doctors advised him to give up the profession. However, after recovery, Suresh continued his task with caution. Four years later once again a freak accident sent him to hospital for 10 days. While unloading the truck filled with logs of wood, a sharp log fell on his right leg causing major damage. Steel rods had to be fitted into the leg to rectify the damage. 

 

Suresh is a type of person who would not allow adversities to take charge of his life. With positive outlook he continued his profession teaming up with Navin since four years. The task of climbing the trees and chopping off the top portion is being done by Navin while Suresh provides necessary guidance and logistics from below.

 

According to Suresh time is precious commodity and it should not be wasted. He does varieties of tasks so as to keep himself busy and earn a living. He says that he has been in this profession  for the last 28 years as he has been  aware that the younger generation would not take up such task. He pointed out the fact that even to pluck coconuts people find it hard to get experts who can climb trees.

Among two sons of Suresh, elder Navarish has been fond of animals and is running a pet shop at Manipura and younger son Mukesh is an electrician.

Navin, who had studied up to seventh standard in Bailur (Karakala) resides at Shankarpura. He too had adventurous streak and started climbing trees while he was in school. As he gained experience, Navin has been in demand for coconut plucking and cutting of risky and dangerously located trees in different places not in  Udupi and Dakshina Kannada Districts but also in Kerala. Four years ago he teamed up with Suresh and two of them have been a formidable team of coconut tree cutters who are in demand to remove dangerous trees which might cause damage to houses and other structures. According to Navin on an average they get four requests per week to cut down trees which may cause danger to houses or otherwise.

The service of Suresh and Navin can be availed on the following numbers:
Suresh: 8497086997     Navin: 9980464229