While local bodies in Chennai and its suburbs have had considerable success in removing seemai karuvelam trees from government lands, as well as rivers and waterbodies, private land has proved far tougher. The local bodies are struggling to identify the owners of private land, both in extended areas of the Greater Chennai Corporation as well as in municipal areas.
It may recalled that the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had given the call for the eradication of seemai karuvelam from Tamil Nadu following the ban on its further plantation.
A Municipal administration official said that the progress of removal of trees was smooth initially and then, trees on patta land came in the way.
There are many trees left to be removed in the extended areas of the Corporation, which includes parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Sources with municipal administration department said that they have been asked to enlist the owners of patta and CMDA approved lands which are lying vacant with seemai karuvelam trees.
A social activist from Mugalivakkam, K.S. Kannan, said that there were a number of seemai karuvelam trees on patta or unapproved lands, which are being claimed as house sites by real estate brokers. In AGR Garden, for instance, many vacant sites are full of this species, which gives cover for all sorts of anti-social activities.
With the area not covered by underground sewerage system, many residents also use these lands as toilets. He said that local bodies should be adequately compensated for removing seemai karuvelam trees from private lands.
Work in Kancheepuram
At Kancheepuram, Principal Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu, R. Selvakumar and District Collector P. Ponnaiah recently supervised the removal work at Nedunundram and Mannivakkam,
Mr. Ponnaiah, while urging the officials to expedite the work using the NGOs, service organisations and residents welfare associations, said that local bodies should take immediate action on these plants grown in patta lands in their respective areas.
He asked the municipality, town panchayat and village panchayat officials to complete the project within next few months.
It may recalled that the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had given the call for the eradication of seemai karuvelam from Tamil Nadu following the ban on its further plantation.
A Municipal administration official said that the progress of removal of trees was smooth initially and then, trees on patta land came in the way.
There are many trees left to be removed in the extended areas of the Corporation, which includes parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Sources with municipal administration department said that they have been asked to enlist the owners of patta and CMDA approved lands which are lying vacant with seemai karuvelam trees.
A social activist from Mugalivakkam, K.S. Kannan, said that there were a number of seemai karuvelam trees on patta or unapproved lands, which are being claimed as house sites by real estate brokers. In AGR Garden, for instance, many vacant sites are full of this species, which gives cover for all sorts of anti-social activities.
With the area not covered by underground sewerage system, many residents also use these lands as toilets. He said that local bodies should be adequately compensated for removing seemai karuvelam trees from private lands.
Work in Kancheepuram
At Kancheepuram, Principal Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu, R. Selvakumar and District Collector P. Ponnaiah recently supervised the removal work at Nedunundram and Mannivakkam,
Mr. Ponnaiah, while urging the officials to expedite the work using the NGOs, service organisations and residents welfare associations, said that local bodies should take immediate action on these plants grown in patta lands in their respective areas.
He asked the municipality, town panchayat and village panchayat officials to complete the project within next few months.