Residents seek probe into collapse of peepal tree

Residents and green activists have sought an inquiry into the sudden collapse of a decades-old peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) behind Muthumariamman temple at the Nemilichery Main Road–Ramaswamy Cross Street junction in Bharathipuram, Chromepet. The tree fell a few days ago despite there being no rain or strong winds at the time.

People for the People’s Movement general secretary and green activist Karthik Kannan suspects that the tree could have been damaged deliberately, but said the matter needed to be investigated. He said some people might have considered the tree obstructing their “view” of nearby places.

According to Kannan, when he visited the spot along with members of Pasumai Thayagam and other activists, they noticed traces of powders and chemicals near the tree’s roots. He said the tree had provided shade to residents and served as a habitat for birds.

“The tree appears to have lost its support after its roots were cut. We have sought an inquiry to establish whether it fell naturally or whether there was any human intervention,” he said.

Scores of residents, including women, paid their “last respects” to the tree on October 5. “Apart from the green cover, a tree adds an emotional and spiritual connect to the people of this land,” said Parvathi, a resident of the locality.

Kannan has submitted a complaint to the Chief Minister’s special cell and the Tahsildar, seeking an inquiry and requesting that samples found near the tree be collected and sent for laboratory testing.

However, some local residents said the tree might have lost its support after its roots were inadvertently damaged when workers dug up the area for a stormwater drain.

A nearby trader said electricity department workers had also been pruning branches of trees in the vicinity that posed a threat to transformers and overhead cables ahead of the monsoon. “As far as any miscreant angle to the tree’s collapse is concerned, we are not sure,” he said.

Green activists, however, said the incident highlighted the need for greater care in protecting mature trees, particularly those with ecological value. They alleged that trees were sometimes removed without adequate attention to scientific methods or due process.

Senior social activist Santhanam recalled that a 50-year-old banyan tree was removed in 2023 by the Railway and Highways authorities during the construction of the Radha Nagar subway. He said compensatory plantation norms required saplings to be planted for trees removed for development projects, but questioned whether such plantations were being properly monitored or documented.

Activists also suggested that authorities explore tree transplantation or translocation, wherever technically feasible, before deciding to remove mature trees.

Residents of Bharathipuram said their demand for an inquiry was not intended to oppose development works, but to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and promote greater awareness about protecting trees.