COIMBATORE: Coimbatore corporation has fined a private contractor ₹1.27 lakh for illegally felling trees from the Sengulam lake here.
During an inspection at the site, a violation was detected, and the contractor was imposed a fine of ₹1.27 lakh, comprising ₹77,000 towards the value of the felled native trees and ₹50,000 as a penalty, according to corporation officials. Meanwhile, the contractor had violated the agreement terms by felling more than 80 native trees. The contractor has also been warned of licence cancellation if similar violations are reported.
K Syed, a member of the DGC, said, “The contractor did not fell even a single seemai karuvelam, but all the trees seized were native karuvelam. Following this, the members of the Coimbatore District Green Committee (DGC), along with officials from the water resources department (WRD), corporation officials and district revenue officials, intercepted and seized two trucks transporting the timbers. The city corporation had awarded a contract for a private company to remove the invasive ‘seemai karuvelam’ following a recent Madras high court order. Manikandan alleged that Sengulam was not under the corporation’s control but was maintained by the WRD. He stated that no permission was obtained from the WRD prior to carrying out such activities. Many migratory birds, including pelicans, have been recorded in large numbers here. This lake, rich in biodiversity, supports migratory birds and their nesting. Many of the felled trees were more than two decades old.”
The illegal felling of trees was flagged by R Manikandan, founder of Kovai Kulangal Pathukappu Amaippu, on Thursday morning.
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