Hanoi People's Committee has given the green light to a construction department scheme to chop down 6,700 aged trees in 10 districts and replace them with new ones.

Workers chop down trees on Kim Ma Street in Hanoi. The city is to chop down around 6,700 trees in 10 districts and replace them with new ones. — VNS Photo www.laodong.com.vn

The department told the committee that it had re-examined more than 29,600 trees in 200 streets.

It said about 6,700 trees had rotten bark and roots and were in danger of falling.

Many were xa cu (khaya senegalensis) planted more than 60 years ago. Other trees facing the axe were said to be bent or stunted.

Initially, the department plans to remove nearly 800 trees in the inner city, and replace them with new trees.

Do Ngoc Hoang, head of the Parks and Green Trees Company said that it would take between six months to a year to remove all the trees.

On pavements less than two metres wide, it will only plant small decorative trees.

According to the department, the work will cost more than VND73 billion (US$3.4 million). It said it would mobilise organisations and individuals to help organise the replacements.

Nguyen Minh Hang, who works in Ly Thuong Kiet Street where 170 trees will be cut down, said she agreed with the plan as she had witnessed some of the old trees uprooted in the stormy season.

"Xa cu is a tree with short roots growing in a bunch, thus it can be uprooted easily by strong winds, especially old rotten trees," she said.

"However, I wonder when new trees will be planted and whether new trees will be big or small. The city is polluted with emissions and noise, a shortage of green trees will make the matter worse and worse," she said.

Vu Hoang An, another city resident, disagreed with the plan to axe the tree. An said it would take quite a long time for the replaced trees to reach maturity, leading to more visual and atmospheric pollution in the city.

"I'm not sure whether the replaced trees will develop well. The buildings in the streets are so much higher now and they will block the sunlight needed to produce strong and healthy trees," he said.