Native trees axed from Coimbatore’s Sengulam, bird nests destroyed; contactor fined ₹1.27 lakh

Nature enthusiasts have condemned felling of large numbers of native trees, mainly Naatu Karuvelam (Acacia nilotica), from Noyyal river basin tank by a private company that had won a contract from Coimbatore Corporation to remove Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora).

They said that several nests of birds were also destroyed during the felling by the contractor who, according to them, felled two truck loads of trees from the tank that is part of the Noyyal river system.

With Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) and non-governmental organisations like Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu (KKPA) raising objections to the indiscriminate felling on Thursday, the Corporation on Friday imposed a fine of ₹1.27 lakh on the contractor, Mubasira Steels, and seized two trucks and two backhoes.

The firm won the contract to remove Seemai Karuvelam trees from government lands, Corporation lands, tanks and channels in all the five zones of the civic body for a winning bid of ₹24,40,380 at an auction held on October 6. As per the proceedings fixed by the Corporation Commissioner, Seemai Karuvelam trees alone should be felled under the supervision of a team comprising Assistant Executive Engineer, Assistant Town Planning Officer and Assistant Revenue Officer from respective zones.

It stated that Seemai Karuvelam trees should be uprooted using machines to ensure that they do not sprout again. Trees that need to be protected should be geo-tagged. If other trees are cut, appropriate actin would be initiated against the contractor for violation of court orders, it said.

R. Manikandan, coordinator of KKPA, accused the contractor of continuing the felling even after Corporation officials intervened and stopped the works on Thursday. He alleged that the civic body provided accommodation for labourers of the contractor in its community hall.

Meanwhile, WRD Assistant Engineer K.S. Karthik Goku wrote to South Zone Assistant Engineer (Planning) on Thursday, stating that Sengulam and Chinnakulam (a part of Sengulam) fall under WRD’s control. The letter stated that the felling of trees was carried out without obtaining consent from the Department. The instruction from the district administration was to remove Seemai Karuvelam trees alone and felling of Naatu Karuvelam trees might have an impact on birds and environment, said the letter, which asked to halt the felling at the tanks until WRD and the Corporation jointly arrive at a solution.

Condemning the felling of native trees, K. Syed of non-governmental organisation Green Care, wanted to cancel the contract to the company for the violation. “Conservation of wetalnds also involves protection of trees around them which support birds and other living organisms,” he said. Mr. Manikandan added that the fine imposed by the Corporation was very less.

As a peer-reveiwed paper, the urban wetland ecosystem at Sengulam supported 151 species of birds during a study from March 2025 to February 2026. Two of its authors, Naveen Kumar S. and H. Byju, wanted an expert team to monitor such fellings across the district and save native trees essential for avian habitats.