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Scouring out seemai karuvelam
The invasive species which also spreads its roots far and wide, preventing other greenery from sprouting, is widely beileved to deplete water table.
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migrator
migrator
Coimbatore
Ever since the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court gave directions to eradicate seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) from the state, various political parties, NGOs, organisations and residents welfare associations have all sprung into action. Armed with sickles and some basic farm equipment, many of them have been seen chopping its bark. Some organisations have even managed to mobilise bulldozers to clear it from near waterbodies.
While they believe that they have destroyed the ‘villain’ tree, saved nature and the underground water table, this is not an achievement. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) scientists and botany experts strongly feel there is lack of understanding of the tree and it’s basics that one should know before jumping into action. Also, they claim that the tree is not as villainous as it has been portrayed.
Misconceptions
Experts say the tree has a host of benefits. During this dry season it has become a saviour for cattle and herbivores in the wild that are facing shortage of fodder over the last few months. Seemai karuvelam is also used extensively in industries. It is a major source for artificial coal production and is used directly and indirectly for power generation.
Experts say it’s incorrect to assume the tree has deep roots that go several hundred feet deep and suck water from the ground, resulting in water level depletion. Seemai karuvelam does not have a definite height or root length. “It varies based on where it grows. On the banks of a lake or canal its tap root is very shallow. In a barren unused piece of land it grows six to nine feet deep. At the most its root cannot go beyond 15 feet deep (in the worst case),” said K Ramasamy, Vice Chancellor, TNAU, speaking to DT Next.
Experts say they have written to the state government and various independent bodies about the tree, and how it’s utility could be channelised over the years, instead of uprooting it. “If its root was very deep, hundreds of these trees would not have been uprooted when Cyclone Vardha hit Chennai,” said Professor KT Parthiban from TNAU’s Forest College at Mettupalayam.
Land use
Proper use of land is the key to preventing seemai karuvelam from spreading further. Ramasamy said that barren or land that has not been fertile for a long time is the ideal place for this species to grow. “Some people buy vast areas of land and don’t use it for years. They are least bothered what grows there. The government should come out with a policy decision that will make it possible to make optimum use of such land productively,” he said.
The VC suggested that such portions of land not left unattended for more than two years could be given (temporarily) to landless farmers for cultivation.
Quick guide to uprooting hardy species
There are three different ways of destroying seemai karuvelam . But the only lasting solution is to dig out the root, entirely using machines. There are biological as well as chemical methods to destroy the tree. However, such a method is not viable for large scale destruction of trees that have spread over a vast area.
Mechanical: This is the most efficient way to destroy it; but it is also a laborious process that needs years of monitoring the place from where the tree has been removed. It is not enough to cut the tree trunk. The primary root has to be dug out using an earth mover or manually.
Biological: This technology is yet to be proven in India. In a few countries this method has been used implemented by administering a predator insect on the tree
to destroy the seed and prevent spreading in the future. But it cannot be a solution for mass destruction.
Chemical: It is very expensive and will badly spoil the soil in the process. Scientists suggest this mode for small scale destruction of the tree when there are very few trees. This cannot be used for large scale destruction of several lakh trees as it is in Tamil Nadu.
Getting to root of the problem of total eradication
Cutting its stem or bringing its shoot to the ground using a bulldozer is not going to eradicate seemai karuvelam, which experts call a ‘natural colonizer’. Its root has to be dug and its seeds destroyed from time to time over a period of five years to ensure that the tree is not resurfacing at the same place. This will make it an uphill task in the urban and rural areas it is going to be even more difficult to eradicate it in the forest.
TNAU Vice Chancellor K. Ramasamy observed that depending on the water availability and environmental factors it grows into a tree or maintains itself as a shrub. Stating that any tree’s roots would go in search of water, he said that seemai karuvelam has an edge over others in tapping water. Professor K.T. Parthiban of the university said that the average length of the tree’s tap root is six feet and in most instances it does not cross nine feet.
“But its secondary roots spread on the soil for nearly 20 feet in search of water. These roots too have to be destroyed as it facilitates growth of the tree afresh. After rains, the shoot along with the root should be destroyed. This has to be followed for three to five years,” he said. “Over the years people have been cutting the stump of the tree and witnessed that it grew to its size on multiple occasions. There are seemai karuvelam shoots that look very young but their roots are 25 years old as the root has not been destroyed. Ascertaining the age of the root will help ascertain the depth of its primary root and destroy it,” Parthiban said.
Stating that there are chances for some locals to give a rough age of a tree, this is not possible everywhere, because the species has not been monitored. The scientist added that this is not the only challenge in eradicating the species. “Its seed can remain dormant for five or more years and germinate into a tree. Unless dedicated agencies take up the job it is not going to be easy to eradicate them ,” he said
Legal eagles rally around, deliver removal as punishment in case
The issue of seemai karuvelam has occupied centre stage in recent days after Madurai Bench of Madras High Court took up the issue very seriously and ordered complete eradication of the plants at least in the southern districts.
What is more significant is that in a judgement, the Court had directed a Head Master to remove Seemai Karuvelam. According to the case, Prema, Head Mistress of Government Higher Secondary School, Thirupullani in Ramanathapuram , had allegedly obtained forged community certificates for her sons.
When three teachers of the school discovered the scam, she obtained a false sexual abuse complaint from a former student against the staff. When the case was proved, the Court came out with the unusual judgment of directing Prema to clear 2,400 square feet of s eemai karuvelam plants. In the event of her failing to so, the officials were directed to obtain the amount that was incurred for the removal of the plants.
In another proactive measure, many judges participated in awareness programmes, apart from taking part in frequent inspections. It was a rare sight to see judges and advocates holding banners and placards and even raising slogans to increase awareness about the harmful nature of seemai karuvelam.
Justice Selvam who was extremely active and carried out frequent inspections in Madurai and Sivagangai. During an inspection in Madurai he openly expressed his displeasure with Madurai Collector, K Veera Raghav Rao, regarding the removal of seemai karuve lam and directed him to expedite
the removal process.
Even in the final verdict, the judges said that only 10 per cent of the work had been executed. MDMK leader Vaiko along with a few other environmental activists filed petitions in the High Court seeking complete removal of Seemai Karuvelam .
After giving enough time and even ultimatums to the district administration, the Court had recently directed all district authorities to remove the seemai karu velam completely in 15 days.
The judgement has been appreciated widely by environmental activists. Muthumurugan, environmental activist who received the state government’s best environmental activist award for the year 2016, claimed that the Seemai Karuvelam plant is an invasive plant and it requires sustained efforts for complete eradication.
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