The Hindu 16.12.2010
Ombudsman to inspect planted saplings in city
Staff Reporter
KOLLAM: M.R. Hariharan Nair, Ombudsman for Local Self-Government
Institutions, will inspect the newly developed Asramam-Kappalandimukku
four lane road in the city to assess whether the Kollam City Corporation
authorities had obliged to directives of the Kerala High Court and the
Ombudsman to plant 256 saplings along the sides of the road.
For the purpose of developing the road, the authorities had felled
128 avenue trees and it invited strong protests from environmental
activists. General convener of the Paristhiti Samrakshana Ekopana
Samithi Odanavattom Vijayaprakash had even moved the High Court for
directions to stop the felling of trees.
The court had in September 2009 directed the city Corporation to
complete the road construction in four months time and then plant 256
saplings in place of the 128 trees that had to be felled for the road
development. The Ombudsman had also issued a similar directive.
The directives were that the saplings should be planted in three
months after the completion of the road work and every three months
after that the High Court should be given a report on the growth of the
saplings. Last month the Corporation Secretary had informed the
Ombudsman that 75 saplings had been planted and protected with tree
guards.
However, Mr. Vijayaprakash lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman
stating that only 50 saplings were planted and that the Corporation
authorities had failed to honour the directives of the High Court and
the Ombudsman.
It was in the wake of this complaint that Mr. Hariharan Nair had
decided to conduct an on-the-spot inspection of the road on a suitable
date after December 18. Mr. Vijayaprakash meanwhile said that he would
move the High Court with a contempt of court petition against the
Corporation for failing to honour the court directive.
