Corporation fells trees at the behest of top govt officials?

CHENNAI: Residents of Natesan Nagar on 3rd Street in Virugambakkam will have to face the direct wrath of the sun because the city corporation has cut down huge trees which provided the stretch with shade. Around six trees have been cut to the stump along the stretch. Residents allege that these trees which have been in their locality for the last 30 years, were cut down because they were a disturbance to the residents of the TAISHA housing complex, which houses government officials.

“The workers told us the trees were being cut because the Corporation Commissioner was going to move into the IAS quarters soon,” said, K Muralikrishnan, a resident of Natesan Nagar. “The road is apparently too narrow for the officers’ cars so they want to widen the road by cutting the trees,” he said. Residents of apartment complexes which benefited from the trees’ shade were also given the same reason by the corporation workers.

“When the perpetrator is a private entity we can complain to the government but what can we do if the government is cutting trees,” argued S Thanigainathan, a resident of one of the apartments on Third Main Road. “We can’t suffer in the heat because top officials want to see a good-looking road as they exit their homes,” he added.

When Express contacted the local resident welfare association, they said they were in talks with the housing association in TAISHA to ensure no more trees are cut. “We have fixed a meeting for Sunday and this issue will be taken up,” said N Santhanam, treasurer of Natesan Nagar Resident Welfare Association. Residents of Natesan Nagar told Express that they would hold a protest or road roko if workers try to raze down other trees in their colony. The Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan did not attend phone calls from Express. The officer- in-charge of the Zone 10 was Around six trees have been cut to the stump at 3rd also not available for comments