Cutting of 1068 trees on Avanashi road begins today
Contractors who bagged the tenders for cutting the 1,068 trees on either side of Avanashi Road for a stretch of 16 km from the flyover to Neemabur bypass road are commencing the work on Saturday.The work will go on for two days. The trees are being removed to create space for widening the road into a six-lane one. The road accommodates a number of educational institutions (colleges and schools), hospitals and commercial establishments on either side and is also a gateway for the airport.The road is a gateway for vehicles proceeding to and from places such as Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Krishnagiri, Bangalore besides being the arterial route for Chennai. Thus, the road is witnessing a growth in vehicular traffic density day-by-day. In addition, the proposed Information Technology Park is also expected to come up at Peelamedu very shortly.Given the future growth prospects into consideration, the State Government recently sanctioned Rs. 27 crore for widening the road into a six-lane one. The authorities completed the survey for road alignment and removal of encroachments.The TNEB authorities are in the process of shifting the transformers and lamp posts on either side to the extreme road boundaries.
Similarly, the other utility service providers such as Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, Corporation, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, private telecom service providers and Corporation authorities have started removing the waterlines and telecom cables.With the work gaining momentum, the highways authorities awarded tenders to the bidders for felling the huge trees numbering 1,068 thus fetching Rs. 2.81 lakh revenue.Even as the work is about to commence, activists involved in environmental issues have expressed concern over such a massive felling for the sake of road infrastructure.
While not questioning the removal of trees for widening the road, they wanted the authorities to commence compensatory afforestation.The authorities explained that providing road infrastructure was also equally important and there would be no compromise on green cover or ecological/environmental considerations.The Government would definitely compensate the number of trees removed. The authorities would adhere to the Government instructions and standing court orders by planting five saplings for every single tree removed.These saplings would be watered and nurtured till they grew into full-fledged trees.Shade and flower bearing saplings had been identified for the stretches within the city limit, they said.
Already the highways department has started planting saplings on either side of Marudhamalai Road and Thadagam Road.Once the widening works are completed, the authorities will ascertain the space available on Avanashi Road for planting saplings.The authorities plan to commence the work on road widening by next month and complete it within a year.
