Forest department may give alternative land for Chennai-Salem expressway

A department official said that they would not permit the NHAI to destroy Reserved Forests.

Stating that they would seek land from the State government to compensate for the loss of vegetation, the official said, “A decision in this regard will be taken once the NHAI presents its blueprint for the green corridor expressway.”

Ever since the expressway was approved by the Union ministry of surface transport, the 274-km long road project has drawn opposition from various quarters.

Environmentalists, farmers and urban development experts have expressed concern that forest cover may be destroyed for the proposed project. “We are aware of the strong opposition from various stakeholders and will study all the issues surrounding the expressway project,” said a NHAI official, on condition of anonymity.

The official added that they would soon convene a meeting in which officials from the union ministry, state highways and representatives of farmers would also take part and give their views.

Speaking to DT Next, forest minister Dindigul C Srinivasan said, “We have neither received communication nor blueprint from the NHAI for this project.

However, we will take appropriate steps to protect Reserved Forests.”

A senior NHAI official said, “The project is at its initial stage.

We will not acquire lands earmarked as ‘protected zones’ by the state forest department.”