The Madras High Court recently highlighted the importance of taking steps to protect trees in the context of climate change. The court expressed the view that cutting down trees for the construction of buildings is not a prudent decision.
Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madurai bench made these observations while hearing a petition filed by Anna Yesudhas, who challenged the decision of the Kanyakumari District Authorities to cut down trees in order to facilitate the construction of a new Panchayat building.
“In this day and age of climate change, the emphasis must be on growing green cover trees. When there are several grown trees, it would be unwise to cut them down for the sake of constructing a building,” the Court stated.
The court took note of the fact that the petitioner had submitted a representation to the Kanyakumari District Collector, which was signed by local residents. This representation prompted a response from the Revenue Divisional Officer, who called upon the Block Development Officer and the Tahsildar to submit their representations. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board was also summoned to submit a report.
Considering that the authorities were already seized of the matter and had not made any adverse decision at that stage, the court deemed it inappropriate to intervene.
As a result, the court ordered the District Collector to make a decision on the matter and communicate it to the petitioner before commencing the construction of the Panchayat building.
