Environmentalists object to planting of eucalyptus trees

Dr Babu, a city-based environmentalist said, “Planting them will bring down the ground water table and also change the profile of the soil. It is worrying that many such saplings are planted in agricultural lands to make quick money. 

At a time, when the whole state is reeling under heavy drought, this plantation drive will compound the woes of the people.” The government should find out alternative trees to make the state greenery, he added.

Some environmentalists recalled that the state forest minister had actually said that eucalyptus trees would be destroyed in many areas across the state. Dr S Rajan, a scientist of Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, said, “There is a team in The Nilgiris district that has been destroying such ecological predators. It is surprising that the minister, who had advocated destruction of these trees is now supporting to plant them on a large scale.” 

When contacted, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr H Basavaraju, said that they have not planted the trees in any Reserve Forests (RFs). 

“Since the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation Limited is a separate wing, it has been carrying such activities for special purpose each year and it is also a routine process,” he said. He added that they had limited eucalyptus plantation in Reserve Forests (RFs) and other places that belonged to the forest department.