Coming to the rescue of a 100-year-old peepal tree on Vadivelu Mudali Street in Perambur, the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Bench here has restrained Chennai Corporation, Chennai Police Commissioner and other private parties from chopping the branches of the tree located next to a temple.
Disposing of an application filed by P. Bakthavatsalam of Perambur, who sought a permanent injunction to restrain authorities concerned and some private persons from cutting its branches, the Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao made it clear that respondents “shall not cut any portion of the tree including the remaining branches under any circumstances.”
There was a dispute between the applicant and persons maintaining the temple over the issue of chopping the branches of the tree.
While those maintaining the temple contended that it was built on a patta land, the applicant claimed it was built on an encroached land. A Madras High Court judgment too had in 2014 directed action against both parties.
An officer of the Corporation of Chennai stated that a notice for locking and sealing the premises had been issued to both the parties but no action could be taken since the election process was in progress.
“We make it clear that the Corporation of Chennai shall pass any order as required in law against the parties after giving opportunity to them,” the bench said.
The counsel for the respondents submitted that they have no intention to cut the tree and only one branch has been cut since it was found causing damage to the mandampam of the temple.
It may be recalled that The Hindu had in August last year reported that the tree was chopped to half its size in the name of trimming its branches by the Chennai Corporation despite stiff opposition from residents.
