Chennai: The Chennai corporation has intensified its tree removal duties in re­s­po­nse to DC’s  report about a senior citizen grievously inju­red when a dead tree cr­ashed on him at Perambur.

A press release from Ripon Buildings, the city’s civic headquarters, on Monday asked people to report to the corporation’s complaint cell if they noticed dead trees with obstructive branches.

People can call 1913 to report about dead trees or branches requiring pruning. Trees that hinder streetlights and pose a danger to motorists should also be notified, the release said.

Citizens can also report to the Mayor’s office (25619300) or the commissioner’s office (25619200) regarding such problems and their corresponding zonal offices, the release added.

DC had carried a report on a person, Chelakarai Rama Venkatadri, 62, and his wife Meenakshi, who, along with another elderly couple, had been knocked down when they hit  dead avenue trees that had not been removed from the road.

Corporation sources said an IAS officer had formed a core team that would help prevent such mishaps and  framed a monsoon guideline for field officials pertaining to trees on the road.

“This is a welcome move, with the corporation stre­ssing on public participation,” said P. K. Rampr­ab­hu, an IT employee. “It cou­ld prove fruitful if the corporation responds quickly so that such accidents are prevented in the monsoon.”

“I didn’t know that people could contact the mayor’s or the commissioner’s office directly to make a complaint,” said K. Elango, a college student. “I will utilise the facility to clean up the city.” 

Techie, friend save tree in Mylapore

Pramila Krishnan | DC

Chennai: An IT professional and his Kollywood friend have sa­v­ed a wayside tree from be­ing chopped down by a resident at RK Nagar in My­l­a­pore by complaining to the police and calling the Chennai corporation help­line (1913). Their intervention halted the axing halfway on Sunday.

Speaking to DC, IT pro Ashok Rajendran, 30, said his friend Marichami, 35, an assistant director in movies, called him for help when a RK Nagar resident named  Gajend­r­an turned abusive on be­ing questioned why he was having a big pavement tree chopped.

The man told Marichami to mind his business, saying the tree was being remo­ved as it was full of ins­e­cts that invariably invaded his adjoining house.

“When my friend told the man it was illegal to chop down a tree without official sanction, he tur­ned abusive and instructed his workers to go ahead with the chopping. Mari­chami wanted to save the tree and phoned me”, said Rajendran, exp­laining the events leading to their complaint.

He said the workers en­ga­ged for chopping the tree fled when the police arrived.

“We called Gaj­e­ndran for questioning. He said he wanted to ch­op down the tree as insects swarmed his house in the evenings. We have registered a complaint and will take appropriate action”, said an officer at Abh­ir­amapuram police station.

Corporation’s overseer of parks, T. M. Murugan,  said he had reported the RK Nagar incident to his higher-ups. “I have filed eight complaints in the last few months regarding illegal tree-cutting in residential areas. Absence of stringent action against the wrongdoers has been a major lacuna”, he lamented.