TN: NGT to Review Tree Removal Petition for Highway Upgrade on April 15
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Synopsis
On April 15, the Southern Bench of the NGT will review a petition from Chennai's Adyar residents, opposing the removal of 69 trees for a Tamil Nadu highway expansion. The petition cites environmental concerns and lack of public consultation in the decision-making process.
Key Takeaways
- The NGT will hear a petition against tree removal.
- Residents claim environmental violations occurred.
- The project lacked public consultation.
- Concerns about conflicts of interest were raised.
- Environmental factors were allegedly ignored.
Chennai, April 12 (NationPress) The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is set to review a petition on April 15, filed by residents of Adyar in Chennai, contesting the removal of 69 trees for a highway widening initiative spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu Highways Department.
The petition, lodged by a representative of the Ramaniyam Towers Residents Association, claims that there have been environmental breaches and a lack of transparency in the project’s implementation.
The residents assert that no environmental clearance was obtained prior to commencing tree-cutting efforts, which are part of a strategy to alleviate traffic congestion at the Greenways Road–Durgabai Deshmukh Road intersection.
As stated in the petition, the project received approval without any public engagement.
Previously, the residents approached the Madras High Court in October 2024, expressing concerns about a potential conflict of interest, alleging that officials from the Highways Department were members of the committee that sanctioned the tree removal, thereby compromising the impartiality of the decision-making.
Furthermore, the residents contend that environmental considerations were overlooked and that no alternative options were evaluated to prevent tree loss.
They argue that practical, less harmful solutions were available and should have been taken into account.
In reply, the State Highways Department submitted a report indicating that the junction is a high-traffic zone frequented by senior government officials.
The department defended that road expansion is essential to reduce congestion, explaining that widening existing roads is unfeasible due to the proximity of heritage structures and official residences.
During the April 15 hearing, the tribunal will entertain arguments from both sides.
The Southern Bench of the NGT oversees environmental cases in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
The NGT possesses the authority to initiate proceedings suo motu in significant environmental issues and has previously mandated state governments to compensate victims of environmental disasters, with its rulings holding the same legal weight as civil court decisions.
Failure to comply with NGT orders may result in penalties, including imprisonment, fines, or both.
