Madurai: Retired Madras high court judge Justice A Selvam has stated that Tamil Nadu would require three rounds over five years to completely remove the invasive seemai karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees, drawing on Kerala's cyclical clearance model as a successful example.
Three Rounds of Removal Needed
"Even if the karuvelam trees are removed once, they will continue to grow again. It will require three rounds of removal. The target can be achieved within five years," he said during an inspection in Madurai district.
Justice Selvam inspected waterbodies, government poramboke lands, and neglected private patta lands in Madurai corporation areas and nearby taluks as part of the exercise ordered by the Madras high court to clear these invasive trees.
Kerala's Successful Model
"In Kerala, they removed it three times in three rounds. After that, this plant is not found there," he explained, emphasizing the need for persistence in eradication efforts.
Addressing questions about government support, he noted that the state is currently providing funds for the work. He clarified that the previous drive had stopped not due to lack of funds, but because of a court stay. He criticized that a bench had stayed the process "without knowing the consequences," which brought the work to a halt.
Encroachments and Legal Handling
On the issue of encroachments in waterbodies, Justice Selvam remarked that they are not a challenge if handled legally. He added that officials need proper guidance to identify encroachments and carry out the removal work effectively.
The court had directed the removal after petitions highlighted that the invasive trees were blocking water flow and affecting groundwater recharge.
