MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete planting of tree saplings within six months on all the National Highways in Tamil Nadu.
A bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice V Ramasubramanian recorded a report submitted by project directors of the NHAI and disposed of a petition seeking planting of saplings along NH.
A Madurai-based advocate Anatha Murugan had moved the court alleging that NHAI had failed to comply with an undertaking given in the apex court that it would plant 10 saplings for each tree axed for a highway project.
During the hearing of the petition, the Project Directors of various NHAI divisions filed a report stating that in Tiruchy-Madurai, Ulundurpet-Padalur, Padalur-Tiruchy and Tiruchy-Dindigul National Highways 11,701 tree saplings were planted on either side of the road from February to May.
Besides, in Madurai-Kanyakumari, Dindigul-Samayanallur, Madurai-Aruppukottai, Dindigul-Theni and Theni-Kumuli HH, 4,751 saplings were planted and maintained.
The report also stated that saplings will be planted during monsoon time so that the plant can survive. Recording this, the court directed NHAI to complete planting the saplings within six months.