Residents of Khanh Hoa Province have been complaining about the strong fragrance of a blossoming tree called alstonia scholaris, or devil’s tree.
An estimated 1,000 of these trees have been cultivated within close proximity in Nha Trang City. After their seasonal blooming in early fall, a number of residents in the area started complaining about insomnia and other symptoms caused by the flowers. Le Hong Phong, Dong Da and Bach Dang streets are among those most affected.
Tran Van Ly, who lives on Le Hong Phong Street, claimed that the trees were badly affecting his health, attributing such symptoms as headaches and sleepless nights to the scent.
The Oriental Traditional Medicine Association of Khanh Hoa Province has stated that these trees can cause allergic reactions, leading to the symptoms complained about by citizens. Although the municipality pledged to try to replace the species of trees, limited budgets have hindered their efforts.
Replacing trees in the city can be a hassle for homeowners, who are expected to foot the bill for any change in greenery requiring obvious manual labour. Any resident who wishes to have a tree cut down must pay for it, even with the approval of city officials. Each tree that is cut down must also be replaced at the resident’s expense, making many wary of starting the process.
Đăng ký: VietNam News