Cutting down of more than 2000 trees for Chennai port-Maduravoyal Elevated Express project!!
Posted on: 09/Jul/2024 9:06:59 AM
For the Chennai Port- Maduravoyal Elevated Express project, NHAI or National Highways Authority of India has submitted a proposal to the Chennai District Green Committee to cut down about 2200 trees near the Maduravoyal flyover.
It must be noted that the young dense trees were planted by the Forest department and funds were provided by NHAI. For afforestation along the Chennai bypass at an amount of Rs 6.64 cr, the stretch was identified by NHAI. This was under the Green Highways Policy 2015 belonging to the ministry of road transport and highways.
In the year 2018, MOU was signed by NHAI and Forest dept is known. Point to be noted is that in this MOU it was mentioned that NHAI might resume developmental or widening activities of the land even before the completion of the contractual maintenance period.
Mr T.D. Babu, Nizhal trustee expressed his thoughts and spoke about how planting of shrubs should have been done instead of trees here as the widening project was anticipated here. He added that NHAI should not have allowed planting trees in huge numbers inside the ramp area.
The district forest officer Mr. V. A. Saravanan spoke about how the proposal to cut down trees was still under the consideration of the District Green Committee. Point is that no final decision has been made yet. He concluded that in the upcoming meeting on 10th July the proposal would be discussed.
