6 months ago
2
Coimbatore-based Osai biology organisation has appealed to the Tamil Nadu authorities to bounds the projected widening of Marudhamalai Road (SH 167).
In a petition submitted to the Chief Minister’s Special Cell, Chief Secretary, State Highways Department and Coimbatore District Collector, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) has raised the demolition of decades-old roadside trees arsenic a cardinal concern.
According to the NGO, the projected widening volition needfully impact cutting of 19 banyan trees, 9 peepal trees, 107 palmyra trees and astir 100 different autochthonal histrion species. These trees, which were planted agelong agone arsenic portion of roadside greening efforts, contiguous signifier an important micro-habitat for birds, owl species, tiny mammals and assorted nocturnal wildlife. Many of these taxon roost, nest, and breed successful this histrion belt, which functions arsenic a continuous ecological corridor, the NGO stated.
The petition stated that the four-lane enlargement of the roadworthy from Vadavalli to the Marudhamalai foothills would necessitate installation of factual roadworthy dividers that artifact earthy question of wildlife, yet forcing deer, elephants and different animals to participate residential areas and escalating human–wildlife struggle astir Marudhamalai foothills.
As introduction of four-wheel vehicles to Marudhamalai temple is allowed 4 days successful a week, vehicles are parked astatine the foothills. If the roadworthy is widened without ecological considerations, postulation congestion and fragmentation of wildlife question volition worsen simultaneously, the petition said.
The NGO wanted widening of the roadworthy to beryllium constricted upto Swamy Ayyappan Temple connected Marudhamalai Road, wherever an country has been marked for the linking of the Western Ring Road (Western bypass). Beyond this point, widening the roadworthy would origin extended biology harm without improving postulation efficiency, stated the petition submitted by Osai treasurer N. Senthil Kumar, organiser G. Ramesh, and members R. Parthiban, B. Pradeep and D. Jagadeesh.
