There is a spurt in the number of applications submitted to the district administration and revenue officials in The Nilgiris to fell ‘dangerous trees’ (trees more than 50 years old that are over 40 feet high) as heavy winds could bring them down anytime. The petitioners claimed that the trees could pose a threat to life and property.
It is said that heavy winds brought down dozens of tall trees across the district over the last two weeks. Chance of more trees to fall is high as the windy season (Aadi Month in Tamil) will set in mid July. Residents and villagers want ‘dangerous trees’ to be removed as a precautionary measure.
One of those who petitioned the Collector at the grievances redress meeting this Monday was a resident of Fernhill in Udhagamandalam. He has been asking removal of the four Eucalyptus trees that are about 50 feet tall.
“They are more than 50 years old and sway heavily on a windy day,” he said.
The petitioner, a businessman who did not want to be named, said that branches of those trees located opposite his house fall on his house and look like they might fall anytime. He said that he has been petitioning the district administration about those trees from July 2014 but they have not been felled.
While the local residents claim that exotic trees are the one that are to be felled in more numbers as they fall quite often and easily, horticulture expert V. Ramsundar said that this was primarily because exotic trees such as Acacia, Eucalyptus, Pines and Cupressus were planted in large numbers across the district (replacing native species) by the British.
“During the windy season, native trees too fall. But they go unnoticed as they are not more in number like the exotic ones in the residential areas,” he said. According to him, not all exotic trees are shallow rooted. He explained that heavy winds are the reason behind trees falling this season.
District Collector P. Shankar told The Hindu that unable to withstand the wind, close to 40 trees were uprooted or fallen in the district in the last two weeks. “On the receipt of an application to fell a tree a team led by the respective Tahsildar inspects the place for knowing the ground reality by analysing if the tree really poses a threat,” he said.
This is because some residents want trees to be felled to build an additional room. “On confirming the genuineness of the danger of the tree, the Tahsildar suggests complete or partial felling of the tree,” he said. Mr. Shakar added that at public places request to fell ‘dangerous trees’ is given by the department concerned.
