Chennai: With both Chennai police and the Chennai corporation turning a blind eye towards the axing of trees in the city, South Chennai continues to lose its greenery. Irked over the chopping of avenue trees by realtors in K.K. Nagar, RTI activist R. Gopalakrishnan lodged a complaint to the local police and the corporation, only to find the offenders going scot-free after paying a petty fine.
“There are provisions for the corporation and the police to take stern action against those axing trees. Vehicle and saw cutting machines used by the unauthorised wood cutters should be seized as warning message for violators,” said Gopalakrishnan.
On a weekly basis realtors are targeting avenue trees that are disrupting the cozy view of the unsold properties. First they pretend like pruning the trees only to be completely axed down later, he rued.
“On a daily basis we promote planting of saplings and also distribute free saplings to increase green cover, but the truth is that the activists are fighting a losing battle in Chennai when it comes to protection of trees,” said G. Mullaivanam, founder, Tree Bank.
The parks department in Chennai corporation is the custodian of the avenue trees, but the department hardly takes action against offenders. There is a need for more awareness on the issue and the public should understand that trees are also public property, he said adding that as per law a tree can be cut only after availing permission from the corporation submitting the reasons for trimming or cutting down the tree. With the application, photos of the tree should also be furnished, but this rule is ignored, he added.
