Residents oppose felling of trees near Trichy church

TRICHY: The Palayakoil Viyakulamatha church in Palakkarai has courted controversy after its management allegedly axed several trees near its compound. The trees were offering relief to the residents from the scorching sun. Residents have now sought the district administration and the local body to constitute a committee to protect the green cover in the city.
The issue was brought to light after the residents claimed that around 12 native trees including neem, maintained by them bordering the church campus, were felled by the church management as the trees were threatening the church property.
The church management on its part claimed that the trees were grown on their property and not on the public space. "Children in the school nearby were complaining of insect bites and there was no ventilation. So, we insisted the workers trim trees. The work was stopped soon after Trichy Corporation intervened," A Antony Sami, parish priest, Palayakoil church told TOI. The management said that outsiders were misusing the shades for open urination.
"Instead of trimming the branches, the management has felled the tree. Last year too, trees were trimmed in the locality without informing the revenue or corporation officials," S R Kishore Kumar, advocate, Palakkarai said.
"We will survey the area through our revenue inspector and VAO to know where the trees were actually planted. If they were in public space, we will lodge a police complaint," a senior revenue official said.