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| Circulars:
Tamil
| English |
| Nizhal has conducted
various “Free the Tree” Campaigns (FTCs) in order
to remove the nails and advertisement boards on trees.
These have been conducted in Kotturpuram, Valmiki nagar,
Gandhi nagar, Indira nagar, T. nagar, Anna nagar, Alwarpet
and R.A. Puram with the help of the local community. The
Corporation has also assisted Nizhal – the Commissioner
has directed all zonal officers to assist Nizhal in this
campaign. |
| Report from Nizhal’s Alwarpet wing |
Starting September 2008, commuters along CP Ramaswamy, Ranga, St Marys, TTK and Eldams roads have started noticing the startling difference. The trees groaning with posters from top to bottom are now free of their burden, thanks to a combined drive from the Corporation and Nizhal. Nailing or wiring advertisements on trees has always been an offence, but it was not enforced properly. The metal boards, cloth banners and thick cardboard sheets mindlessly nailed onto the barks expose the trees to infection, growth suppression and slow death.
The Alwarpet wing, under the able leadership of Ms. Vasanthy Rajiv, got its act together and chalked out a plan to "Free the Trees”. Three major issues were discussed: stop the nailing on trees, save them from being choked by the cement grip on the pavements and prevent excessive trimming of the branches, both low hanging ones that pose a threat to public and high ones that cloud street lamps, traffic signals and other signboards.. As the first step, volunteers have come together once a week, mostly Saturday afternoons, and painstakingly removed the advertisements as well as all the nails from previous assaults on the trees.
Though almost every tree on every road in all areas has been vandalized by advertisers and the maximum damage has been inflicted on the main arterial roads. Aluminum ladders help volunteers reach heights and claw hammers and pliers help them remove the boards and nails. Those that are still unreachable are cleared with help from the local corporation officials who send their staff for most campaigns. Apart from the streets mentioned above, parts of Luz Avenue and R.A. Puram have also been cleared .Next on the anvil is Mylapore and Royapettah. The Alwarpet wing ambitiously plans to clear trees on a huge square patch right from Poes garden to MRC Nagar to RA Puram and Nandanam, and all the areas enclosed within.
The campaign to free the trees is progressing steadily and the volunteers do not plan to stop till the advertisers do. All their contact numbers and addresses are promptly noted down and handed over to the Corporation every month so that notices can be sent to the offenders to prevent further nailing. Nizhal volunteers also regularly call up the advertisers and request them to refrain from future abuse. The persistent follow up has yielded positive results in the form of clear trunks, clean from nails, wires or any other foreign objects and is an immensely satisfying vision to the friends of trees.
For details on the ongoing FTCs, check the Current Activities section. |
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