Residents of Nandanam re-enacted the ‘Chipko Movement’ to save Trees
Nandanam Extension 1st Street will get 2,500 metres of stormwater drains and the works for it are expected to be completed by September before the arrival of the northeast monsoon to prevent flooding in low-lying areas. The Corporation plans to dig up 30 major roads for the construction of stormwater drains. But the project is getting delayed because it needed to chop down the trees and the residents are against the axing of trees.
A 40-year-old woman, S Sumathi, grabbed the ropes the tree cutters had brought to pull down the trees. Throwing the ropes around her waist and neck, she challenged the corporation workers to go ahead. “The corporation officials didn’t know how to react. They started abusing me verbally,” said Sumathi, who lives in an apartment behind the tree. Corporation officials had orders to bring down five trees, which residents said were 50 to 60 years old.
Residents re-enacted the ‘Chipko movement’ on Saturday, when the Chennai Corporation authorities came to chop down trees in the neighbourhood to make way for stormwater drains. In the 1970s and 80s, organized resistance to the destruction of forests spread throughout India came to be known as the Chipko movement.
After inspection, the officials said only three would have to be axed as the drains could take minor diversions to save two trees. But residents insisted that none of the trees should be cut.
This is the second time the residents have come together to persuade the corporation to look at alternatives to cutting trees. Officials from the corporation said they had exhausted all options before deciding to chop the trees. “There is a sewer line running parallel to the stormwater drain and there is no way we can have a deviation,” said the assistant executive engineer of ward 116 on condition of anonymity.
The officials are also vexed that the project is getting unnecessarily delayed. They said that drains have been laid for 240 metres of the total 255 metres on Nandanam Avenue 1st street. “We can complete the works in a week if we are allowed to work,” said the engineer.
Times of India
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