The National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s Southern Bench here has directed Government Officials’ Cooperative Housing Society Limited to plant 70 trees of native species on a stretch in Besant Nagar, which was to be identified by the Chennai Corporation Commissioner.
Disposing of an application by a resident of Besant Nagar, the Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member R. Nagendran also directed the Corporation to consult the Forest Department to decide about the nature of trees to be planted and to initiate follow-up action.
Citing reports in The Hindu , S. Savithri, a resident of Besant Nagar who sought a direction against the Society for cutting down trees in the park, claimed that the act was carried out without informing its members and that she was a member. During the hearing, the counsel for the society contended that except for one, all the trees had only been pruned. A report of an expert from Centre for Floristic Research of Department of Botany in Madras Christian College and an Advocate Commissioner appointed by the NGT were also taken into consideration by the tribunal.
