The State Highways Department has speeded up the planting of saplings along city roads in an effort to restore the green cover lost due to cyclones and civic works.
Anna Salai, the Poonamallee High Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai and the Vanagaram-Ambattur-Puzhal Road have received around 2,000 saplings, each over six feet tall.
“We started this work in a small manner before the last monsoon but had to put it on hold. We have identified locations that have lost tree cover. These include spots where we haven’t planned any works in the new future and have drain connectivity,” said an official in the department. The saplings will be watered on a regular basis.
Ecologist Sultan Ahmed Ismail says the avenue trees not only provide shade to road users but also ensure that the soil below is well-anchored. The roots help fix nutrients in the soil. The trees will attract birds too. The department should also ensure that native species of trees are planted, he added.
Besant Nagar resident G. Ramakrishnan said that many roads in the city had lost their tree cover due to widening work, Metro Rail construction and other development works.
“The government agencies must take efforts to plant saplings immediately after each monsoon at spots that have lost trees. It would also be great if small grass patches with cement benches could be built near them, once they grow to a certain height, to help commuters find some respite from the heat,” he said.
