Around six months ago, they appeared — a stand of soothing green replacing a pile-up of off-putting grey. With saplings taking over a vacant space under the flyover at the intersection of Chennai Bypass and Poonamallee High (PH) Road in Maduravoyal, the practice of building materials being stored by government agencies died a natural death. It was viewed as a commendable move by the State Highways Department, but the exercise has now visibly lost its sheen.
The saplings seem to be losing their sap as the COVID-19 crisis has caused them to be watered less frequently.
From being watered twice-a-day before the lockdown, the saplings were down to a once-a-day, and reportedly, in the past few weeks, an appalling once-a-week routine. At the height of summer, this is a harsh situation to withstand for saplings just a few months old.
“Lack of adequate workforce to water the plants has led to this situation,” says a State Highways official.
These saplings are paired to tree guards, especially because of residential areas around the intersection such as Maduravoyal, Nolambur, Vannagaram, Porur, Athipet and Ayapakkam have a large population of cattle and many of them stray around the region. Saplings had been bought from the State Forest Department. The greening exercise was carried out with the objective of reducing pollution on the section.
Tree guards, Highways officials say, should be retained for at least a year to ensure the saplings are not ravaged by cattle. “Steps will be taken to water the saplings frequently,” says a State Highways official.
