The Southern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) based in Chennai that has taken up the case against the Tiruvannamalai girivalam path widening scheme is expected to pass an interim order on Tuesday.
Permanent damage
A report in The Hindu dated June 18, 2016 and titled ‘Activists against widening girivalam path’ had touched upon activists’ apprehensions that the project would cause permanent damage to the ecology of the forests around the hill.
Based on the report, the NGT took suo motu cognizance of the case and stayed the felling of the trees along the girivalam path. It had also asked for reports from the Collector.
A few other people opposing the project joined as petitioners as well.
However, there were several allegations that trees were being felled in violation of the stay order. In a subsequent hearing, Justice P. Jyothimani, member of NGT, asked officials to stop all works with regard to the project.
Request turned down
According to the petitioners, in the last hearing held on August 17, Justice Jyothimani turned down a request by the Highways Department for applying tar above the base layer of ‘macadam’ (consisting blue metal and cement) that was already laid on the flanks of the existing road in order to widen it.
He also observed that a mud surface was more suitable for widening the road than tar or cement as it also goes well with the ambience and nature of the place.
At the hearing, the Highways Department was asked to desist from starting any work in the meantime.
The NGT had observed that a mud surface was more suitable than tar or cement for widening the road
