CHENNAI: Seemai Karuvelam trees (Prosopis Juliflora) has no direct impact on ground water level, a panel constituted to carry out scientific study and on possible ill-effects, submitted in its report.
The report was filed before the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar on Friday, in response to a PIL from advocate V Meganathan, who sought to restrain the authorities from drastically removing Karuvelam trees and also to direct the government to constitute a committee of experts to study the alleged ill-effects.
In its additional report, the committee said Seemai Karuvelam has xerophytic adaptation and the root system does not penetrate great depths. It grows well in dry regions where rainfall is less than 200 mm.
If it is submerged in water for over six months, it would die automatically. The 10 year pre- and post-monsoon data relating to the rise and fall of ground water in the State clearly indicated that Seemai Karuvelam has no direct impact on the depletion of ground water, the report claimed.
Due to shortage of fossil fuels, the trees have traditionally been extensively used as fuel wood and charcoal. A large section of rural population in Tamil Nadu depends on it for livelihood. It is a useful plant both to the wetland and dry land ecosystem. This species has a positive impact on the overall ecosystem in Tamil Nadu, the report said. MDMK leader Vaiko was present in the court during the hearing. The matter was adjourned till October 22.