Afforestation projects a big drain

Chennai: The multi-crore afforestation exercise in the state, in the form of tree sapling projects, has yielded little or no returns since 2005 and has proved to be a big drain on the government. At least Rs 700 crore of state and Central exchequer’s money has dried or withered, literally. According to informed sources, funds poured in through three major afforestation projects Japan

International Cooperation Agency Afforestation Assistance, National Afforestation Project funded by Union government and the Chief Minister’s massive sapling programme by the state government.
Over the past three years, funds to the tune of Rs 72.99 crore were spent under the CM’s birthday sapling programme and 60 lakh saplings planted annually, but the net result is that there is no growth, sources said.

“The concept of urban forestry is missing and the problem of axing avenue trees persists more in Chennai due to poor planning. If there is proper monitoring and protection for the saplings the state could have a relatively better tree cover, but even then, attaining the national forest cover policy of 33 per cent is a difficult task in TN,” said Professor D. Narasimhan, department of plant biology, Madras Christian College.

“There is no accountability or a census figures related to the number of trees.  The post of tree wardens and the tree authority to protect green cover have become history and there is no accountability in the issue,” rued civic activist Ayanavaram Ramadoss. However, forest department officials have a different version. “The entire state of Tamil Nadu is getting urbanised. In Chennai metro rail, new bridges, road expansions and all the new apartments have come up at the cost of existing trees.

The new secretariat complex was constructed after axing at least 100 trees in Omandurar estate. There is better survival rate for the saplings planted in Virudhunagar and Theni, where there is no major urbanisation,” the official quipped. “Forest department claims massive afforestation, but on the other hand government authorities continue to chop trees for new projects. There has to be some policy consensus,” said Mr. K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.