The Hindu : Kerala News : Move to axe trees on temple lands

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 03, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Move to axe trees on temple lands

By N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 2. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which launched a major afforestation programme to protect rare species of trees and `sacred groves' near temples eight years ago, is soon to embark on a programme of large-scale felling of valuable trees in its properties in six districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur.

According to reliable sources in the Board, at least 15,000 trees will be cut down for profit. A majority of the trees identified are in the sacred groves near major temples in the State. Seasoned teak, anjili and jackfruit trees in the Board's properties, including those near the 1,200 temples and many educational institutions under it from Parassala to Thrissur, are to be axed.

The sacred grove surrounding the Sasthamcotta temple in Kollam district, for example, has a number of seasoned teak trees.

Similarly, Irinjolkavu Dharma Sastha Temple in North Parur stands in the midst of a 10-acre dense forest. All these are likely to be destroyed, sources said.

Sources told The Hindu that such large-scale felling of trees would destroy the sacred `kavus' that were being preserved from time immemorial and destruct the ecosystem.

No follow-up

Eight years ago, the Board had launched the `Devaranyam Project' to protect and conserve the groves, such as `Navagraha Vanangal' and `Nakshathra Vanangal.' Though the project was launched with much fanfare, there was no follow-up and the afforestation drive did not yield the desired result. While deciding to fell the trees, no proposal for compensatory afforestation had been made by the Board, sources said.

Authorities of the Board held discussions with the Board Chief Engineer (General) on March 25 and took the decision on the ground that "if timely action for the disposal of these matured trees is not taken, the board will be at a revenue loss, especially in the case of teak timber which will get damaged and will fetch only minimum value when it becomes older and older."

Sources said the Board had a surplus of Rs. 8 crores in its budget for 2005-06 and was not facing any financial problems.

The Chief Engineer has submitted a detailed proposal for tree felling and this has been okayed by the Board. The Board has decided to conduct a survey of the seasoned trees and conduct a public auction to dispose them off.

The Chief Engineer has suggested the formation of a special team exclusively for conducting the survey. The team is to be headed by an assistant engineer of the Ambalapuzha Devaswom and is to include three overseers attached to the Thiruvananthapuram, Aluva and Vaikom offices of the Board.

All assistant commissioners, administrative officers and sub-group officers of the Devaswom will be directed to provide necessary assistance to the team.

The team will submit weekly progress reports to the Chief Engineer and also maintain group-wise register of the trees proposed for auction. Once the survey report is approved, the deputy commissioners are to conduct the auction, sources said.

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