Don’t stunt trees, NGT tells TNEB

The bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Dr P Jyothimani and Expert Member PS Rao tribunal besides asking TNEB to be careful while pruning the branches of trees in a manner that it does not affect its growth, said “We make it clear that such pruning shall be done scientifically and the execution should be in the presence of supervising officers concerned without leaving it to the contractor or his workers.” 

VGN Mahalakshmi Nagar Owner-Residents Welfare Association in Perumalagarm had contended that TNEB’s indiscriminate cutting of the branches of the trees had affected their growth and diminished the greenery in the area. It also sought for a direction to lay electricity lines through underground cables without cutting trees.

Also, the bench on looking at the photographs of the haphazard manner in which such pruning of trees had taken place, said, “It may be true that due to pruning some trees perhaps got damaged. Cutting of branches on one side may definitely result in loss of balance and may affect further growth of trees.” 

However, the tribunal on noting that laying of overhead cables is the policy of government and it cannot interfere with the same, directed the petitioner to make necessary representation to TNEB for laying high tension underground cable system which will not damage the trees.