Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More green cover is the need of the hour

Photo: N. Sridharan

MAKING ONE GREEN WITH JEALOUSY: The avenue trees at Tiruvanmiyur cause a craving for more such trees. —

CHENNAI: Does Chennai have adequate green cover? State Forest officials say the existing tree cover is inadequate and has to be enhanced by at least another 50 per cent to address various environmental concerns including pollution and rising temperature levels. These problems, which many see as direct consequences of the lack of greenery, call for a policy framework incorporating more green consciousness. If one takes a look at the macro-level picture, the draft Second Master Plan of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) offers directions on the greening projects. The Plan notes that “Chennai city has only about 2 per cent of the area as declared parks.” In the Chennai Metropolitan Area, the declared forest cover is about 24 sq. km though satellite imagery shows a considerable green canopy over the city.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Tamil Nadu) C. K. Sreedharan said the Forest Department, in association with the Municipal Corporations and other government agencies, was intensifying its efforts by planting 45,000 saplings this fiscal year. Under this programme, it will provide saplings at a nominal cost to schools, colleges and healthcare organisations. These establishments will, in turn, have to nurture the saplings.

Despite a gloomy overall picture, there have been success stories generated by some projects. The once rocky terrain of Trisulam now wears a green look, thanks to the efforts of the Forest Department. The project was successful because of detailed study of the terrain and sustained care spanning 22 years, Mr. Sreedharan said.

Greening Chennai

Realising the importance of such greening projects, a Rs.4-crore project to plant trees in the six Municipal Corporations in the State has been mooted. Under this project, 35,000 trees are to be planted in the city. The Forest Department has asked the Chennai Corporation to identify locations for saplings to be planted. They have also requested students and resident welfare associations to join the process by taking care of the saplings once planted.On one hand much importance has been given to sapling planting projects. But, on the other, there have been instances in which trees are cut for development projects.

Earlier this year, the Corporation authorised felling of several trees on TTK Road in Alwarpet and G.N. Chetty Road in T. Nagar.

Alwarpet resident D. Vijaya Bhaskaran filed a public interest litigation in the Madras High Court, stating that felling of trees was not the solution to reduce congestion on roads. Following the case, the court directed the local body to plant 50 saplings for every tree it axed. Further, if transplanted trees die or decay, 50 saplings must be planted for every tree.

While the government struggles to achieve a balance, the corporates have also begun to join in the cause. Corporate sponsorship of green spaces is a relatively new concept in the city. Public green spaces are maintained exclusively by the civic body and the Highways Department. Forest Department officials feel that the corporate role in the process should be enhanced and private bodies should also contribute to the greening of the city, thereby supporting the Government’s greening programmes. One example cited by them was sponsoring of tree guards.

Anjan Chinappa, proprietor of Environmental Designer, said corporate houses showed keen interest in maintaining green spaces, including traffic roundabouts and central medians. However, since the process of negotiating with the government is cumbersome, a third party is needed. “That is where we come into the picture,” he said. “We negotiate with the Corporation and then take on the responsibility of maintaining the particular space at the expenses of the company.” He gave the example of the green space near the Gemini flyover, which is maintained by the Indian Oil Corporation. “If the process of negotiations with the Chennai Corporation is sorted out, big IT companies such as Wipro and Infosys will also be interested in the idea,” he said.

Green Policy

The draft Master Plan adds that “there is ample scope for further development of the green cover within the city and also in the rest of the CMA, particularly along roads, drains and riverbanks.” It says that “an increase in green cover in urban habitats becomes a necessity not only to solve the problems of pollution but also to ensure ecological stability.”

The Plan also suggests that “local bodies concerned, particularly in the rest of the CMA, plan and implement tree planting programmes not only along the public roads maintained by them but also within public premises with local people’s participation.”

It has also called for statutory provisions to protect ecologically sensitive areas identified by the Directorate of Environment. The commitment to greening the city as an important part of city development is visible in this plan.

(With inputs from P. Oppili, Swahilya, Kannal Achuthan, K. Lakshmi, J. Malarvizhi and Krishna Velupillai)

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu