After causing havoc in Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, dieback, a fungal disease, is now inflicting neem trees inTelangana.
Thousands of trees have been hit badly in Warangal, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal, Mahbubnagar, Gadwal and other districts. A neem tree begins to dry up and its yield is hit once the fungus infects the tree.
Ironically, neem that has become synonymous with providing good Health to other trees, animals and people through its twigs, leaves, flowers, bark, seeds and fruits has been dying due to the rare pest first identified about three decades ago. Neem is a natural pesticide and now it has become a victim of the pest that attacks only neem trees.
In Hyderabad, scores of neem trees in Alkapur Township are drying up with the infection killing the branches. Fresh cases of dieback infection were reported from Warangal city causing concern among Environment activists. Though the infection was noticed more than two decades ago in Karnataka, it began invading neighbouring Rayalaseema in the last five years. From Rayalaseema, it entered Telangana.