The Madras High Court Judge A. Selvam inspected work on removal of seemai karuvelam trees in Dindigul district here on Saturday.
While interacting with industrialists in Nilakottai, he asked them to spend their corporate social responsibility fund for removing these trees in their area. The TAFE officials assured to cooperate and fund liberally for this work. Already, Ambika Cotton Mills had adopted five tanks at Anjukulipatti village in Sanarpatti union for complete renovation.
When a group of people complained about prevalence of seemai karuvelam plants near waterbodies at Rajadhanikottai, he advised the local people to remove the growth on their own. Contribution of labour would suffice to protect villages and improve groundwater sources, he said.
Earlier, the judge inspected Sirumalai reservoir which was under the PWD control and also Moongil Kulam, Aranmanai Kulam and Ramrajan stream at Rajadhanikottai panchayat under the control of panchayats.
Later, the judge inspected seemai kuruvelam trees grown on both sides of National Highway-7. At Nakkampatti and Jallipatti villages, he saw a wilted coconut grove which was densely covered with seemai karuvelam trees. The invasive species had destroyed the coconut grove. Now the farm was left with only dead trunks of the coconut trees. Quick action and concerted efforts by all sections of people was necessary to remove these plants and protect the State, he said while interacting with the local residents. Later, he inspected Kongar Kulam at Chettinaickanpatti panchayat in Dindigul union and other tanks in Oddanchatram and Palani blocks.
Collector T.G. Vinay and other revenue and town panchayat officials accompanied him. A warm welcome was accorded to the judge at the district border near Pandiarajapuram by the Collector and other officials.
