CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation on Saturday handed over 323 sq m of Panagal Park to metro rail for construction work, but the council resolution for this is silent on whether the green committee was consulted or whether the committee will supervise the fate of the 87 trees that have to be cut.
No tree can be cut without the nod of the green committee set up last year to frame guidelines for conserving urban green space. It is mandated to study if trees can be saved or transplanted before giving permission to cut.
CMRL in 2020 submitted a proposal to the corporation which after discussions and government approval passed a resolution on April 9 to allow CMRl to take over 323 sq m of the park including demolition of 93 metres of compound wall, 10 fences, one motor room, two newly built security rooms, a well and 87 trees for phase 2.
The move has surprised activists already irked at the manner in which CMRL handled parks, especially Thiru Vi Ka Park at Shenoy Nagar, during phase 1.
T D Babu, a trustee of Nizhal, an NGO, said that even if government orders were passed earlier, present laws state that trees can be chopped only with the permission of the state and district green committee. “CMRL has to be transparent about trees it plans to chop. It should consult locals, NGOs and experts and check if some trees can be transplanted. The district green committee the state environment department should not allow this without consultation.”
The 1923-built park, which sprawls across eight acres, has, according to a 2018 Nizhal survey, 218 species of trees. CMRL sought 6,911 sq m and has been temporarily given 323 sq m after paying ₹3.7 crore to the corporation.
Deputy commissioner (parks) D Sneha said the government had already issued an order but said she would check and get back on the permissions to be acquired. Environment department officials and members of the green committee didn't respond to the messages.
