Removal of Seemai Karuvelam in full swing in southern districts

The Bench had initiated suo moto contempt proceedings against Ramanathapuram Collector while directing that the work should be carried out in full pace even in the remotest corners of the districts. 

MDMK leader Vaiko, along with other environment activists, had filed petitions seeking the removal of seemai karuve lam trees in all the 13 districts under its jurisdiction. When the case was heard on Jan 31, the court granted the district administrations time till February 10 to remove the trees from both public and private lands. If the private parties failed to remove the plants, the district administration should axe them and collect the charges later from the land owners. 

However, the Ramanathapuram Collector failed to comply with the order and a suo moto contempt was initiated against him. This in turn forced Collectors of other districts to intensify the removal process. Sources said respective district officials were supervising the removal process. The razing of trees from private lands was being given more attention and private land owners have also been directed to remove the trees before February 7.

If they failed to remove the plants within the deadline, the district administration itself would remove the trees and collect double the cost from the land owners. The order was being given in person to all the land owners. Meanwhile, Vaiko, one of the important petitioners in the case, also joined the process of removing seemai karu velam trees in his native Kalingapatti in Tirunelveli district on Friday. The MDMK leader along with students and residents cleaned the village.