Decades-old trees along Kadayam-Tenkasi highway face axing
The Hindu
Former Tenkasi MLA intervenes to stop the exercise
Decades-old trees along the Kadayam-Tenkasi highway are facing the threat of being axed even though the majestically grown shady trees do not affect vehicular traffic on this busy thoroughfare in any way.
When Kumarasamy Mudaliar, son of then ‘jilla board member’ Medai Thalavai Mudaliar, saw the felling of tall trees near Kadayam in 1945, he stopped it and took steps for planting tamarind trees afresh on both sides of the road from Mudaliarpatti to Ariyappapuram Vilakku. This spot is called ‘Ellaippuli’ even today.
Even though this avenue of trees does not affect the vehicular traffic and neither Department of Traffic nor Highways recommend felling or pruning of these trees, a few persons cut huge branches of these trees on January 7. Even as they were cutting larger branches closer to the ground as a precursor to the felling of the entire trees, former Tenkasi MLA K. Ravi Arunan, who was crossing the Kadayam panchayat union office, confronted these people and wanted to know the persons who had ordered the cutting of the trees. They continued their operation that forced the locals to join hands with Mr. Ravi Arunan. Those cutting the trees left the spot and the trees have been saved.