The move to fell the trees at Perur Chettipalayam tank has been dropped after environmentalists expressed concern over the move as it would destroy the habitat of several native and migratory birds.
A senior official of the Forest Department said on Wednesday that the move was dropped as the department was convinced the trees provided a habitat for birds and various living organisms.
However, trees at plantations around the Vellalore tank will be axed in the coming days though the auction is yet to take place.
Arrangements were made to conduct an auction for felling around 1,000 trees around the Vellalore tank on Sunday.
But, bidders reportedly quoted prices below the price fixed by the Government.
The Department will conduct another auction in the coming days.
Official sources said the two plantations at Vellalore had acacia nilotica trees in large numbers, planted under social forestry initiative for the need of local people. Hence, there was no objection to felling these.
They added that the tanks were under the control of the Public Works Department and, therefore, the Forest Department was not the sole decision-making authority.
As the trees are not uprooted, new sprouts will come from the trunks soon. One round of cutting was already done at Vellalore, said another official.
As per a survey done by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History on January 12, 2011, 1,192 wetland birds and 1,807 associated birds of 57 species were spotted at Vellalore tank, and 88 wetland birds and 48 associated birds of 18 species at Perur Chettipalayam tank.
