Villagers object to cutting of trees along state highway near Auroville

PUDUCHERRY: The residents of Edayanchavadi and Kuilapalayam villages of Irumbai panchayat, Vanur taluk, Villupuram district, and a section of Auroville residents have objected to Auroville Foundation’s decision to cut the trees along the state highway connecting the two villages.
On learning that the trees on the highway were being cut on Wednesday morning, villagers gathered and protested, forcing the workers to stop work. A team from the Vanur police station and the VAO (Vanur) reached the spot and held peace talks with the villagers.
The Auroville Foundation, in a release, clarified that six trees located along the highway were removed to lay the outer ring road in the town. “These are non-scheduled, common species and not part of any protected or heritage category. The foundation strictly followed all prescribed legal procedures. Applications were duly submitted to the highway department and the green committee for permissions to be granted by competent govt authorities. The DFO’s office, including the jurisdictional ranger, made a site visit and duly submitted a report to the district collector. Tree removal commenced only after a green light from the concerned authorities,” said the release.
The release further stated that the tree clearance work for laying the outer ring road is 99% complete, with only one remaining tree pending removal. Once this final task is completed, the project will be finalised and opened for safe public use. The project was conceived to address urgent safety and mobility concerns for residents of the nearby villages. The existing narrow road experiences severe weekend congestion due to high visitor traffic to Auroville, creating hazardous conditions for residents, particularly children and youth living along the roadside, said the release.

The foundation regretted that certain groups have circulated false and misleading claims about this lawfully approved and beneficial project. Such misinformation has caused unnecessary concern among residents who were otherwise supportive of measures that directly enhance their safety and living environment, said the release.