Transgenders cut eucalyptus trees exploiting groundwater

Accordingly, a group of transgenders were roped in to cut the trees on Thursday.

The eucalyptus plantation covers over 1.20 lakh acres of land, including 45,000 acres owned by the Forest Department in Pudukkottai. These lands had apparently turned barren as the trees had depleted the groundwater.

Since Pudukkottai is dependent on groundwater rather than the monsoon rains, which frequently fail, for cultivation, local experts began a sensitisation drive to heighten awareness among the farmers to remove the eucalyptus plantations which cause water shortage. In most places, the groundwater level had fallen to a depth of more than 700 ft.

The experts said the eucalyptus saplings were planted even in private lands on contract basis by some paper mills, which gave them incentives. But after the continuous sensitisation campaign about the adverse impact of the trees, the land owners have come forward to remove the trees.

Accordingly, “Porantha Oorukku Pugazha Seru”, a voluntary organisation of youth from the district, roped in about 50 transgenders from Pudukkottai to cut the trees. On Thursday, the group went to the land of a person called Vinodkumar (33) of Karambakudi where the eucalyptus trees have been growing in an area of two acres and removed the entire plantation and planted cash crops like coconut trees, mango and other fruit tree saplings.