Patna, Aug. 12: Around 500 trees got submerged under water at the non-government organisation Tarumitra's bio-reserve section.

The NGO, working for environment issues since the past few decades, has expressed concern and has sought the help of the authorities concerned.

According to Tarumitra officials, water from neighbouring compounds have also filled up the bio-reserve. Tarumitra houses many species of endangered trees.

Tarumitra founder Father Robert Athickal said endangered species of trees include red sandalwood, Sita Ashok (Saraca Asoca), needle peepal and others. "We also have two palm trees whose leaves are considered to be the biggest in the world apart from rare variety of bamboo. We had specially brought the bamboo trees from the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute. The main problem is that here many residents have built houses on the Housing Board land without caring for drainage network. The buildings have blocked water going outside. Lack of drainage is aggravating the problem. If trees remain under water for 20 days, they will die. We have been told that a drainage network was to be laid between Digha-Ashiana road but the work has not been started," rued Athickal.

According to Athickal, Tarumitra official D.N. Prasad had met local ward councillor Chhathiya Devi over this issue. Devi had assured to look into the matter but so far no help has come from her side.

Tarumitra co-ordinator Devopriya Dutta said: "Water from the neighbouring compounds are filling up forest areas. It is a threat to the flora and fauna in Tarumitra.The need of the hour is a canal which has to be built in such a way that water will not remain stagnant and will flow in directed drainage area causing no waterlogging."

Ward councillor Chhathiya's husband Pappu Kumar said he couldn't do anything for flushing out water from Tarumitra area as there was no drainage network. "I have installed four motor pumps provided by the urban development and housing department in my ward but the area in which Tarumitra falls nothing can be done to flush out the water as there is no drainage network," he said.

PMC commissioner Abhishek Singh said the District Urban Development Authority, which was supposed to create a drainage network through a private agency had finalised the tender and had already issued a work order.