Vanishing shade: Coimbatore’s sparse tree cover falls prey to illegal felling

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A view of the tree-lined Maruthamalai Road in Coimbatore | Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

The diminishing tree cover in Coimbatore is facing further threat from illegal felling of in public places in the absence of proper guidelines to curb such attempts and action to be taken against offenders.

Joseph Reginald, a researcher from KRG Nagar at Ganapathy, said gaps in the system came to light when he had to question illegal felling of a lush kodukkapuli tree (Pithecellobium dulce) in a reserve site of Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation’s (CCMC) ward no: 20 by a private individual on May 15.

After much efforts by various NGOs, the Coimbatore north Tahsildar wrote to CCMC’s Assistant Commissioner (North) on May 20, based on a report from the Village Administrative Officer, referring for appropriate action in the matter as the reserve site belongs to the civic body.

“Though the tree was felled, the letter stated its branches alone were cut. It also lacked full details of the person involved in the felling,” said Mr. Reginald.

According to him, no action was initiated against the individual from the Corporation, following which the matter was taken to the attention of the Revenue Divisional Officer (North), but to no avail.

The Forest Department stated that its role was confined to assessing the value of trees in the case of illegal felling and not taking action against offenders. As per the Government Order (G.O.) regarding the formation of district green committee, it also did not have a role in taking action against violators.

“There is no clarity on what guidelines, Acts, Rules, G.O.s, or other legal provisions govern cutting and valuation of trees in public places. Little is also known under which provisions permission is required for cutting trees in public places and who is the competent authority to grant the permission. People are not aware where to complain, how to complain and who is the authority to report a felling,” said Mr. Reginald.

A city-based environmenta