Residents stand up to seemai karuvelam

In Thiruvalluvar Rayappa Nagar, a drive against this invasive weed is under way

The residents of Thiruvalluvar Rayappa Nagar, and office bearers of Thiruvalluvar Rayappa Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Varadarajapuram, who have embarked on clearing the invasive weeds. The residents have rented JCB earthmovers to weed the mesquite trees.

The battle against the invasive seemai karuvelam seems to have intensified in Kancheepuram district. Significantly, residents welfare associations are in the vanguard of this fight. For instance, residents of Thiruvalluvar Rayappa Nagar and office-bearers of Thiruvalluvar Rayappa Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, Varadharajapuram, have started removing seemai karuvelam trees in their locality.

The are over 100 homes and most of the residents have come together and rented JCB earthmovers to clear these mesquite trees that grow to a height of 12 metres. V. Rajasekaran, president, Thiruvalluvar Rayappa Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, Varadarajapuram, said, “The trees are found in large numbers around the Nagar and the weeding work will be carried out in phases. Land owners must also take steps to clear the trees.”

Rajasekaran, says, “The trees should be cut before the flowering stage. If they are cut after this stage, even the cut branches from the trees can grow at fast clip. So, the trees must be cleared before the flowering stage and the branches must be buried in a pit after they are cut.” So far, more than 40% of the weeding work has been completed. After removing the

seemai karuvelam trees, residents plant other native trees to prevent further growth of the invasive weed.