As works are getting under way for laying pavements along a portion of Alagarkoil Road in Madurai under Urban Development Mission, activists and residents want the authorities to ensure that sufficient space is provided around the trees growing on the pavements. This would ensure that the trees did not get choked with paver blocks laid around them, they said.
Earlier, when paver blocks were laid by the administration in front of Pandiyan Hotel and Circuit House, sufficient space was not provided around the trees. After sometime, the roots of the trees dislodged the paver blocks, the activists said.
City-based environmental activist S. Sridhar said at least three to four feet of space should be provided around the trees to allow water percolation and aeration to the roots.
Advocate Lajapathi Roy said improper or faulty implementation of the work would lead to choking of the trees, leaving them like caged animals.
Another environmental activist, Suresh (named changed on request), said if the earlier method was followed this time too, it would stunt the growth of the trees.
The activists pointed out that if no space was left around the trees, the expanding roots would damage paver blocks.
Mr. Sridhar suggested that pebbles could be used on the pavements as they were naturally found and would beautify the place.
The authorities, however, said paver blocks would be laid with care. Materials that would help in water percolation would be used. It would not affect the growth of the trees, they added.
