All grey and no green?

With the huge trees falling victim to the digging operations by civic authorities, Chennai could soon become a city of metal and concrete. THE NUMBER of avenue trees uprooted in the city after the 1994 cyclone made some concerned citizens wonder why only some trees were able to withstand the winds while others simply toppled over. That a particularly well-grown tree with a spreading canopy on a major thoroughfare could get uprooted (see pics) only seven years later (in the recent rain spell) would come as a shock to environmentalists. But if one were to look at the problem more closely, one would realise that a finger could easily be pointed at both private parties and Government departments who dig up the roads at the slightest pretext.

According to Dr. S. Rajarajan, head of the microbiology department, Presidency College, once the lateral roots are damaged, the foliage slowly begins to wither and the tree itself is gets weakened and becomes vulnerable especially during cyclones and gales.

The stretch of the G. N. Chetty Road from Panagal Park to the Anna Flyover has approximately 120 trees. While 66 of these have suffered because their roots have got damaged during digging operations by various civic authorities, the remaining trees are also affected and this is obvious by their stunted growth and withered branches. Around 50 medium sized trees have escaped injuries caused by digging operations as their roots have not spread as yet too far into the road area.

Thyagaraya Road, Venkatnarayana Road, G.N. Chetty Road, Bazullah Road and North Usman Road in T. Nagar are fast losing their tree- lined appearance. Some of these giant trees stand out like a cool patch of green amid a growing jungle of grey concrete, and smoke from the numerous vehicles. Once these trees too fall a prey to digging operations carried out in the name of civic improvement, this city centre would be bereft of all greenery which would in turn make its teeming populace gasp for a breath of fresh air.

O. M. MURALI

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