The Madras High Court Bench here on Wednesday directed the State government to frame a comprehensive scheme within eight weeks for eradication of Seemai Karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees considered harmful to ecology.
Justices R. Sudhakar and V.M. Velumani passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by MDMK general secretary Vaiko whom they appreciated for having taken pains to assist the court in the case.
The judges suggested that instructions could be issued to all government departments, including Public Works, Forest and Revenue, with regard to the harmful nature of the trees and the need to curtail the growth of the plants on government as well as private lands.
They also impressed upon the need for the government to allocate sufficient funds for uprooting the trees from riverbeds, lakes, channels, water bodies and other places, besides educating people through the media about the ill-effects of Seemai Karuvelam trees. The court observed that a special cell comprising officials from the agriculture and horticulture departments could be created to give suggestions on the methods that could be adopted to weed out the trees in toto and ensure that they did not grow again in any place.
Adjourning further hearing on the PIL petition to the fourth week of January, the Division Bench directed the government to file a report on the day of next hearing listing out the nature of action taken by it to weed out the trees across the State. During the course of hearing, Mr. Justice Sudhakar pointed out that the Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj had issued a communication to all Collectors on October 30, 2013, seeking their indulgence in weeding out the trees to replenish the groundwater level.
“No other plant or shrub would grow next to Seemai Karuvelam trees. Birds would also not build their nests on these trees because they let out very little amount of oxygen,” the communication stated.
