The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday expressed its anguish over the delay by the State Government in enacting a special law, with penal and prohibitory clauses, to eradicate seemai karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees, an invasive species considered harmful to the nature, despite a suggestion made by the court on February 28.
Observing that eradication of seemai karuvelam trees had turned into a people’s movement ever since the court began showing interest on the issue since December last, a Division Bench of Justices A. Selvam and P. Kalaiyarasan told Additional Advocate General V. Ayyadurai that enactment of an Act would give an impetus to the movement.
Subsequently, passing an interim order, the judges said that 40% of the invasive species had been uprooted from the State due to the assistance and guidance of the Chief Justice and judges of the High Court and the undaunted efforts of subordinate judges, Advocate Commissioners, some Collectors, voluntary organisations, philanthropists, general public and media.
Pointing out the Collectors of Virudhunagar, Pudukottai, Tiruvallur, Perambalur, Chennai and Chengalpet had not shown enough interest in eradicating the harmful trees within their territorial jurisdiction, the Division Bench directed them to implement the earlier orders of the court scrupulously and make sure that the species was wiped out completely.
“During personal inspection and also from various sources, it is learnt that Indian Railways has not shown much interest in eradication of seemai karuvelam trees within their contour. Therefore, the General Manager, Southern Railways, is directed to make his personal appearance on June 9 with work done statement,” the judges ordered.
Further, observing that a personal inspection by the judges revealed that the Tahsildars of Ponnamaravathi, Karambakudi, Kulathur, Viralimalai and Thirumayam in Pudukottai district too had failed to obey the court order to uproot the trees, the Bench directed its Registry to issue suo motu contempt of court notices to them returnable by June 9.
The judges also directed the government officials across the State not to hesitate in according necessary permission if the general public, voluntary organisations, philanthropists and others come forward to remove seemai karuvelam trees from water bodies and other public places by mobilising money and manpower on their own.Revenue authorities were also directed to keep a tab on growth of such trees on private lands and include the land owners as parties to the case pending before the court if the latter fail to uproot the trees from their properties. “Due to joint exertion of all in the last three months, it is reliably learnt that so may water bodies have been resurrected in Tamil Nadu.
“It is pertinent to state that general public, students, NGOs, philanthropists and the media have come out to protect our soil and this court expects the same spirit till complete eradication,” the judges said and adjourned further hearing of the case to June 9 after reiterating its suggestion to the government to enact a special law at the earliest.
