The Madras High Court Bench here on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to pass a legislation, within two months, for weeding out Seemai Karuvelam ( Prosopis juliflora ) trees, an invasive species considered harmful to the environment, from public as well as private lands across the State.
Justices A. Selvam and P. Kalaiyarasan also ordered that the State allot adequate funds periodically for uprooting the trees. The interim orders were passed on a public interest litigation petition filed by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko in 2015.
Work at slow pace
Expressing dissatisfaction over slow progress of work carried out by Collectors across the district despite repeated orders passed by the court to uproot the trees, the judges directed them as well as other governmental organisations to speed up the works and remove the trees within the next 15 days.
Cautioning the officials that the High Court judges themselves would be personally monitoring the removal works, the judges directed the Principal District Judges across the State as well as the Advocate Commissioners appointed by the court also to inspect the works whenever time permits them.
The invasive harm
Further observing that only around 10% of the trees had been removed so far though the court had been issuing repeated directions on the issue since December last, the judges however appreciated the Advocate Commissioners, college and school students and the media for creating awareness among the people about the hazards of Seemai Karuvelam.
Later, the case was adjourned to March 20 for further hearing.
