Several residents of Serayampalayam in Perunthalaiyur panchayat, right from children to aged people, stood waist-deep in Bhavani river on Thursday to convey their stiff resistance to the reported move by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation to cut down an old banyan tree in their locality for the purpose of installing a tower line.
According to Mukilan, coordinator of Tamil Nadu Sutrusuzhal Paadukaapu Iyakkam, who led the protest, the local residents were determined not to permit removal of the 100-year-old tree.
A few days ago, the residents formed a circle around the large tree trunk to prevent the contractor from cutting the tree. They apprehended that the TANGEDCO was planning to cut down 50 more trees for the project. According to an official source, District Collector S. Prabakar conducted a meeting on Friday to discuss the issue. The tree was not less than 75 years old, and it would not be removed in all probability.
