Trees along the Kacherippady stretch were axed on Sunday, as part of the road-widening work undertaken by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the Kochi metro rail.
According to Assistant Commissioner (Traffic, West) Baby Vinod, four trees along the stretch were cut down. “The trees were cut to facilitate the road widening work from St Antony’s Higher Secondary School at Kacherippady junction to Madhava Pharmacy,” he said.
DMRC officials said even though trees were being cut for the project, they have plans to plant more trees to compensate the loss.
“We have already started planting saplings at the Government Ayurveda Hospital, Kacherippady, in lieu of the trees that were cut for the development project,” DMRC spokesperson said.
Saplings were also been planted near Salim Rajan Overbridge a few weeks ago. As per the estimates, at least 477 trees will be cut down for facilitating the metro rail work.
However, residents or environmentalists need not worry as the DMRC’s strategy is to plant 10 trees for every tree that is felled. During the official launch of the metro rail construction, four hundred saplings were distributed to the public at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.
Initial studies to assess and ensure that green cover is given to Kochi will be undertaken. An environmental officer will also be deputed for this purpose, officials said.
Meanwhile, the DMRC was able to complete the concreting work of the second pile at Edappally, near Changampuzha Park.