Prepare action plan to enhance urban green cover in Madurai: Plea
Madurai : Madras high court on Wednesday sought a response from the state on a plea seeking a direction to the authorities to prepare and implement a Comprehensive Green Madurai Action Plan for restoration of ecological balance, enhancement of urban green cover , conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of urban heat island effects in Madurai city.
A division bench of Justice C V Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an advocate C Selvakumar of Madurai.
The petitioner stated that Madurai, one of the oldest historic cities of India, has developed over several centuries around the Vaigai river , which constitutes the principal ecological lifeline of the region. Traditionally, the Vaigai river, its floodplains, wetlands, avenue trees and extensive green cover collectively moderated the local climate, facilitated groundwater recharge, preserved biodiversity and maintained ecological equilibrium.
He stated that during recent years, Madurai city has witnessed unprecedented urbanisation accompanied by large-scale construction activities, widening of roads and highways, removal of mature avenue trees, conversion of open lands into built-up areas and continuous reduction in urban vegetation. These developments, although undertaken for infrastructure improvement, have not been matched by adequate compensatory afforestation or ecological restoration measures, resulting in a measurable deterioration of the urban environment. One of the most serious consequences of this imbalance has been the emergence of severe urban heat island effects throughout the city.
He stated that a study conducted by researchers of the University of Oxford titled ‘Moving beyond exposure: A globally comparable framework for heat risk assessment in cities,’ has assessed 205 cities’ across the world with populations exceeding one million by applying a Composite Heat Risk Index based on hazard exposure, social vulnerability and coping capacity. The study identified Madurai as the seventh highest heat-risk city globally, thereby highlighting the urgent necessity for coordinated governmental intervention through urban afforestation, restoration of ecological infrastructure, enhancement of tree cover and implementation of comprehensive climate adaptation measures.
Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking a direction to the authorities to prepare and implement a Comprehensive Green Madurai Action Plan for restoration of ecological balance, enhancement of urban green cover, conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of urban heat island effects in Madurai city; to restore Vaigai river ecosystem by undertaking large-scale plantation of native tree species along both banks of the river. He further sought a direction to the authorities to prepare and implement a comprehensive Madurai Heat Action Plan incorporating urban green infrastructure, shaded pedestrian corridors, cooling shelters, public drinking water facilities, heatwave mitigation measures and other climate resilience initiatives.
The petitioner also sought a direction to constitute a district green task force under the chairmanship of the Madurai district collector comprising representatives of all concerned departments, scientific experts and other stakeholders for effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of the measures; to conduct an annual tree census and maintain geotagged records of plantations.
A division bench of Justice C V Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an advocate C Selvakumar of Madurai.
The petitioner stated that Madurai, one of the oldest historic cities of India, has developed over several centuries around the Vaigai river , which constitutes the principal ecological lifeline of the region. Traditionally, the Vaigai river, its floodplains, wetlands, avenue trees and extensive green cover collectively moderated the local climate, facilitated groundwater recharge, preserved biodiversity and maintained ecological equilibrium.
He stated that during recent years, Madurai city has witnessed unprecedented urbanisation accompanied by large-scale construction activities, widening of roads and highways, removal of mature avenue trees, conversion of open lands into built-up areas and continuous reduction in urban vegetation. These developments, although undertaken for infrastructure improvement, have not been matched by adequate compensatory afforestation or ecological restoration measures, resulting in a measurable deterioration of the urban environment. One of the most serious consequences of this imbalance has been the emergence of severe urban heat island effects throughout the city.
He stated that a study conducted by researchers of the University of Oxford titled ‘Moving beyond exposure: A globally comparable framework for heat risk assessment in cities,’ has assessed 205 cities’ across the world with populations exceeding one million by applying a Composite Heat Risk Index based on hazard exposure, social vulnerability and coping capacity. The study identified Madurai as the seventh highest heat-risk city globally, thereby highlighting the urgent necessity for coordinated governmental intervention through urban afforestation, restoration of ecological infrastructure, enhancement of tree cover and implementation of comprehensive climate adaptation measures.
Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking a direction to the authorities to prepare and implement a Comprehensive Green Madurai Action Plan for restoration of ecological balance, enhancement of urban green cover, conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of urban heat island effects in Madurai city; to restore Vaigai river ecosystem by undertaking large-scale plantation of native tree species along both banks of the river. He further sought a direction to the authorities to prepare and implement a comprehensive Madurai Heat Action Plan incorporating urban green infrastructure, shaded pedestrian corridors, cooling shelters, public drinking water facilities, heatwave mitigation measures and other climate resilience initiatives.
The petitioner also sought a direction to constitute a district green task force under the chairmanship of the Madurai district collector comprising representatives of all concerned departments, scientific experts and other stakeholders for effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of the measures; to conduct an annual tree census and maintain geotagged records of plantations.
Next Story