While the Ministry of State motorways claimed that 550 felled trees would be relocated, public concerns remain due to the adequacy of compensatory measures. | Photo Credit: File Photos
The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal allowed the felling of 1,819 trees to expand the Avinashi – Mettpaayam road, covering the Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts.
The bench, which includes Judge Pushpa Sathayan and Satyagopal Korlapati expert, brought her sentence in the SUO Moto, which captured the 226 Crore Road reports, which covered 38 km across the Tiruppur and Coimbabore districts.
The project, which is implemented in two phases, includes upgrading the existing two -lane road with a length of 7 meters on a four -lane highway in 16.2 meters wide.
In phase 1 (Avinashi on Nariyampalli), 470 trees were felled for 13 km at the price of 80 GBP crore. In phase 2 (Nariyampalli to Mettupalayam), 1,342 trees of 25 km will be reduced for 146 crore.
While the Ministry of State motorways claimed that 550 felled trees would be relocated, public concerns remain due to the adequacy of compensatory measures.
State motorway department and smaller ports-implementation agency-applied that all trees verification activities were carried out after approval from the District Green Committee, District Forest Officer and Officer of Income Division on the basis of verification in the field.
The bench took note of the Ministry’s plan to plant 4 770 seedlings-3 270 on the Avinashi-Mettpayam (SH-80) and 1,500 on the old NH-47 section near Avinashi. 500 of them have already been planted and the remaining would be planted during the monsoon. The plan is for 1:10 the ratio of compensatory planting for each tree felled.
In its judgment, the bench ordered the Ministry of State Motorways to complete the planting of seedlings using native species such as Neem, Tamarind, Kadamba and Maham. “While the justification proceeds due to the necessity of the public and the safety of road traffic, it is properly recognized, the compensatory measures must not remain theoretical, but require strict implementation and continuous supervision. Simples of seedlings are insufficient;
It ordered five -year maintenance of seedlings, including watering, fencing and exchanging dead plants. A geo-marked public database is to be created to monitor the loss and afforestation of trees.
Published – June 26, 2025 17:56
