100 Hectares of forests to be destroyed for the Chennai- Salem Green Corridor Express Highway
Posted on: 31/Mar/2018 9:58:17 AM
Forests play great roles in our lives is well known. Deforestation or destruction of forests to make the land available for other uses is dangerous. This destruction of forests would lead to many issues like loss of species, soil erosion etc.
The shocking news that has emerged now is as many as 100 hectares of reserve forest land in places like Dharmapuri, Thiruvannamalai and Salem districts would be destroyed for the sake of Chennai- Salem Green Corridor Express Highway project at the mammoth cost of RS 10,000 Crores.
It is well known that thick forest cover is present in as many as 16 reserve forests areas like Arani, Polur, Chengam, Sathanur, Thiruvannamalai, Harur, North Shevaroy ranges etc in northern districts of TN. It is now said that 100 hectares of forest lands in the above mentioned places would be destroyed for building this project. The reserve forest areas are Siruvanjur in Chengalpattu forest range, Sorakolathur in Thiruvannamalai, Nambedu in Arani, Alialmangalam in Polur, Chengam range based Anandavadi and Ravandavadi, Theerthamalai forest range based Puvampatti and Puvampatti Extension.
The reserve forest areas also include Nonganur and Pallipati Extension in Harur ranges belonging to Dharmapuri district plus Jarugumalai and Manjavadi Ghat belonging to Shervaroy North range in Salem district.
National Highway Authority of India or NHAI has communicated with the state government regarding the destruction of as many as 100 hectares of forests lands present in the reserve forests area for the construction of Chennai-Salem Green Corridor Express Highway. Another important point to be note is a total of 23 km of road would be laid in the reserve forest land and this could create problems for the 16 forests villages there.
Identification of an alternative land for the forest department in the neighbouring vicinity was recommended by NHAI. Early clearance from the forest department is required and for this NHAI has sought the government.
This reserve forest area is very important as it has got numerous birds and animals plus it is also important for the villages present in the northern TN.
There are number of oppositions against this destruction of reserve forest lands and many environmentalists belonging to Thiruvannamalai district have sought details about the number of trees that would be removed.
Destruction of even 10 hectares of forest land would lead to issues in the entire bio-diversity system and the proposal to remove as many as 100 hectares would create irreversible damage to the environment. This was confirmed by Mr. Prakash president of Illanthalir.
