Coimbatore corporation has fined a private contractor ₹1.27 lakh for illegally felling more than 80 native trees at Sengulam lake, after environmental activists and officials intercepted two trucks carrying the timber from the site.
The tree felling was flagged by R Manikandan, founder of Kovai Kulangal Pathukappu Amaippu, on Thursday morning. Members of the Coimbatore District Green Committee, along with officials from the water resources department, the corporation and the district revenue administration, subsequently inspected the location and seized the two trucks transporting the cut timber.
According to corporation officials, the inspection found that the contractor had violated the terms of its agreement. The fine includes ₹77,000 towards the value of the felled native trees and ₹50,000 as a penalty. The contractor has also been warned that its licence could be cancelled if similar violations are reported.
The corporation had awarded a contract to a private company to remove the invasive seemai karuvelam from the lake following a recent order of the Madras High Court. Officials and members of the District Green Committee said the contractor had instead cut native trees and had not removed even a single seemai karuvelam tree during the operation.
K Syed, a member of the District Green Committee, said all the trees seized by officials were native karuvelam rather than the invasive species identified for removal. He said many of the trees were more than two decades old and that Sengulam lake supports a range of biodiversity, including large numbers of migratory pelicans.
“During the field inspection, we noticed many bird nests, and squirrel nests were damaged,” Syed said. He added that tree removal at the site had taken place within a single day and argued that such work should involve an active field officer from the local body or department that awards the contract.
The incident has also raised questions over which agency was responsible for approving and monitoring the work. Manikandan alleged that Sengulam lake was not under the corporation’s control but was maintained by the water resources department. He said the contractor had not obtained permission from the department before beginning the activity.
Syed said work of this nature, particularly on water bodies, should involve consultation with the District Green Committee. The committee also called for field-level supervision to ensure that contractors appointed to remove invasive vegetation do not damage native trees or habitats while carrying out the work.
The corporation’s penalty and warning follow the seizure of the timber and the joint inspection by district and local officials. The contractor’s compliance with the licence warning and any further action by the concerned departments remain the next official steps.
