The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to release mineral funds within two weeks for removing Seemai Karuvel trees across the state, while giving priority to trees growing in water bodies.
The direction was issued by a special bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and K. Rajasekar when a case seeking the removal of Seemai Karuvel trees in Tamil Nadu came up for hearing. The petition was filed by MDMK general secretary Vaiko and others.
Additional Advocate General P.V. Balasubramaniam, appearing for the state government, told the court that district collectors had been instructed to take steps after obtaining approval from district committees for releasing the funds. The instruction was issued at a meeting of secretaries held on September 9, according to the report submitted before the court.
The state government said delays had occurred because of restrictions governing the use of the funds. The court, however, said it found no barrier to using mineral funds for removing the trees. It directed the government not to delay the release of funds by citing procedural rules.
The case concerns the removal of Seemai Karuvel trees, an invasive species that has been the subject of litigation and administrative action in Tamil Nadu. The latest order places the immediate focus on the funding mechanism and on the ability of district-level authorities to carry out the work.
During the hearing, Vaiko told the court that the Tamil Nadu government had introduced a scheme called ‘Sezhumai Karuvoolam’ following earlier court directions. He requested district-wise reports to help establish whether the High Court’s orders were being implemented seriously across the state.
The court specifically ordered that water bodies should receive priority in the removal work. This places ponds, tanks and other water-related public assets at the centre of the next phase of implementation, although the order, as reported, does not specify the amount to be released to individual districts or the total area targeted for clearance.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on October 9. By then, the state is expected to have acted on the direction to release the mineral funds within two weeks and proceed with the removal programme, beginning with Seemai Karuvel trees located in water bodies.
