TIRUNELVELI
The ongoing uprooting of over 1,400 trees to enable the widening of the busy two-lane Tirunelveli – Tenkasi Highway into 4-lane stretch on an outlay of ₹ 412 crore has shocked the social activists here.
The 45.60-km-long stretch between Pettai on Tirunelveli outskirts and Azad Nagar on Tenkasi outskirts, covering a distance of 45.60 km on the Tirunelveli – Shencottai – Kollam Highway, is to be widened following repeated appeals from the public.
As the Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation, the project proponent, has identified the successful bidder, the widening work is likely to commence either in last week of June or first week of July this year. It is expected to be completed by September 2020.
Once this project is completed, dangerous curves, narrow bridges and culverts, all causing accidents, would be removed. Seven overbridges, including the rail overbridge at Pavoorchathram and 71 culverts, are to be built as part of this project to make vehicular traffic easier.
Since the existing two-lane stretch is to be widened into four-lane highway, land acquisition is going on and the age-old roadside trees are being removed.
“Over 1,400 big trees are to be axed for this widening project. Even as the widening work is on, we’ll plant 10 saplings for every tree getting uprooted now and maintain the saplings for a few years. The Department of Forest, based on the soil texture, will choose the fast-growing tree species and plant them,” said a Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation official.
However, the environmentalists argue that these age-old trees could have been carefully replanted with the help of heavy equipment along the road again.
“Since the lands required for the widening work have almost been acquired, the officials could have easily selected the spot where the now uprooted trees could have been replanted. The officials who would have been aware of the removal of roadside trees should have started this exercise last year itself. As the district received a good rainfall during northeast monsoon between mid-October and November last week of last year, they could have successfully completed the re-planting work during this period. Unfortunately, the age-old trees, mostly tamarind and neem trees, are being axed. We’ll monitor the planting and maintenance of saplings. If it is not properly done, we’ll approach the court,” said Mahesh, an advocate, involved in tree planting on public places.