Activist: Stop chopping 100-year-old trees for road widening project

Udhagamandalam: Environmental activists in the Nilgiris are up in arms against the proposal of uprooting of the 100-year-old trees situated on the roadside of NH 67 at Gandhipuram, near Coonoor for widening the road.
"Starting from the Coonoor -Ooty road junction in Coonoor town till Gandhipuram, there are over 40-50 trees, all aged over 100 years. A revetment is being constructed on one side of the road at Gandhipuram area in the process of widening the road.At least seven to eight trees are being disturbed by the highways department in the name of widening the road," said an environmentalist pleading anonymity.
According to the state highways officials, the half-kilometre stretch of road at Gandhipuram area is too narrow to allow proper vehicluar movement. Hence, a proposal has been sanctioned to widen the road and the work is underway.
"The whole stretch of the road between Kallar and Coonoor falling under NH-67 is a ghat section. At many places the road runs narrow and in some it is broader. At Gandhipuram area, near Coonoor, the road is narrow but felling of old trees can never be the solution. The must be alternative ways to ease traffic congestion," said the activist.
"We cannot let this happen and if situation demands, we will approach the court," he said.
However, Kuzhandairaju, assistant divisional engineer, State Highways (NH-Wing) told TOI, "Work is underway on the NH-67 near Coonoor to widen the road for about half kilometre stretch. As of now, we will not uproot the trees situated within the construction area."
"Depending upon the amount of traffic on the road and if the situation demands, only after consulting the traffic committee we will send a proposal to the authorities concerned for uprooting the trees," he added.