Use CSR funds to remove invasive species, suggests HC

CHENNAI: A division bench of Madras High Court on Friday directed the State government to involve private companies to remove invasive species of trees by utilising the funds under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

The bench comprising Justice N Sathish Kumar and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the direction while hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by several people, including MDMK general secretary Vaiko and other others to remove invasive species like prosopis juliflora, lantana camara, and senna spectabilis.

The State government informed the bench that the concept for the proposal to engage the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited to remove invasive species of trees and plants from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has been sent to the Finance Department.

Recording the submissions, the judges said that if the State implemented the project at a slow pace, the invasive trees and plants would grow fast and destroy the native plants in the forests and other parts of the State.

“Why shouldn’t the government rope in the private companies to remove the invasive species by using their CSR funds? The government shall take a decision to utilise the CSR funds for this project,” the bench suggested and adjourned the matter to October 11.