The Madras High Court bench here has ordered notice to the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Environment and Forest Department on a public interest litigation seeking eradication of Seema Karuvelam (prosopis julifora) trees from Tamil Nadu.
A Division Bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and S. Vaidyanathan ordered notice based on the petition filed by M. Karupuraja of Sivaganga district. In his petition, Mr. Karupuraja pleaded with the court to constitute an expert body to frame an action plan to eradicate ‘Seema Karuvelam’ trees and implement the plan. According to the petitioner, the prosopis julifora plants were planted in Tamil Nadu without a scientific study on the impact of the species to the ecology. The non-native species has chemicals that affect the growth of other species.
Therefore, prosopis julifora plants should be eradicated from the State, particularly the water bodies, to protect the ecology, the petitioner added.
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The case has been posted to January 7 for further hearing.