The Highways department had planned to cut the trees that stood along the Coimbatore-Pollachi highway for widening this stretch of 26.85 km of road. On learning this, members of environmental organisations OSAI, Pasumai Desam, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) and Siruthuli came together and with the help of the management of Rathinam institutions, Disha School, Achipatti, Fire bird Institute Chettipalayam, office of the revenue inspector and one each in a reserved site at Rajam avenue of the Coimbatore corporation relocated the trees. We were told that 19 out of 16 trees have been relocated.
It has been reported that the relocated trees have started to grow again. For their efforts in saving the trees from being felled, Syed of OSAI and Rajendar of Pasumai Desam NGOs were felicitated in a function that was hosted at the Sidhhapudhur Government School auditorium. Former District Forest Officer (DFO) Badraswamy participated in the event.
When speaking at the function, Osai Syed and Pasumai Desam Rajendar said, “The road from Coimbatore to Pollachi had trees on the both sides. It was planned to cut down the trees for widening this road. We got permission from the Sub-Collector Pollachi for relocating the trees to another location. More than 50 trees have been relocated to various educational institutions and other locations on the Coimbatore to Pollachi road.”
“There are 90 more trees that are waiting to get a new home. However, the same is yet to be done and we are on the lookout for the right space to relocate the remaining trees. If the educational institutions and industries around the area permit us to use their premise for planting the relocated trees, we can definitely save the remaining trees too.
It is not an easy task to relocate a tree from one place to another and to keep it alive. We have to do it very carefully without causing any damage to the roots of the tree. If the roots are damaged, then the tree wouldn't survive after relocating. We also have to take into account the electric lines, water pipes, telephone lines that are embedded in the ground while retrieving the trees. We wish many voluntary organisations and public should join hands with us in this endeavour.”
