Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Rising incidence of cutting trees alarms green activists

P. Oppili

Lack of awareness among residents contributes to cutting down of saplings

RARE SIGHT: Avenue trees along a street in Srinivasapuram, Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai. — Photo: N. Sridharan

CHENNAI: There has been a sharp increase in felling of avenue trees in the city — a trend that is causing serious concern among residents.

In Alwarpet, at least 20 saplings, all of them two-three years old, have been cut down in the last fortnight, complain residents.

The saplings were cut down simply because they obstructed the view of apartment complexes or office buildings. Tree lovers said the felling took place only at night.

D. Vijaya Baskar of Green Cross Exnora complains that five saplings on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai and Seethammal Road Extension, two each on Bharathidasan Salai and Chitharanjan Road and one each on Seethammal Road and TTK Road were cut down in the past fortnight.

At a time when it is difficult to get saplings to implement a greening programme on city roads as well as find manual labour for planting work, cutting down of trees has affected the morale of green enthusiasts, he says.

An acute lack of awareness among residents led to increased felling, he feels.

`People cooperation vital'

Forest officials said people's cooperation was vital as far as greening efforts in the city were concerned.

Only with their participation could any greening programme achieve success. Mr. Baskar cites the example of Royapuram. The department planted the saplings and entrusted the responsibility of protecting them to the locals.

The result was that more saplings survived and improved the green cover. A senior Forest Department officer says that in most cases, the saplings died mainly due to vandalism by insensitive people and grazing cattle. Strict enforcement of laws alone would bring down the practice.

In order to avoid vandalism or prevent foraging by domestic cattle, authorities raised saplings in nurseries till they grew to about two metres and then planted them on roads.

Another officer said a few years ago the department proposed an autonomous body, "Tree Authority," to ensure protection for avenue trees and to penalise those chopping them down.

However, as no legislation had been enacted, the Forest department authorities were unable to initiate action against offenders, he said.

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