A two-member expert committee which went into the Tiruvannamalai Girivalam Path Widening Project has submitted its report to the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Southern Bench here. The Girivalam is the path taken by devotees of the famed Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai district.
In its report, the committee indicated that the flora and fauna in the area may not be affected much by the project. It further said that the Highways Department shall undertake maintenance of the odais/channels leading to the receiving water bodies lying within 20m on either side of the road as part of the project cost.
As for the feasibility of earmarking a portion of the existing road for movement of emergency vehicles, the report says 5m wide on the left side of the road on stretches 2, 3 and 4 could be dedicated exclusively for the two-way movement of emergency vehicles.
A perusal of the report indicates that the committee has recommended that the Highways Department may be permitted to undertake its work with various conditions in all stretches of the project.
“The Highways Department may be permitted to cut and remove the six dead avenue trees standing on either side of the road margin along the girivalam path on stretches 2, 3 and 4 in view of the safety hazard that such dead trees pose to the public,” one of the general recommendations of the report stated.
When the case came up for hearing before the bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao, Tiruvannamalai District Collector Prashant M. Wadnere and Superintendent of Police R. Ponni appeared.
One of the applicants, Krishna Kumar said, “We have sought time from the bench to go through the report and give our comments.” The case was later posted for final hearing on March 28.
