Madurai: This traffic cop is on a mission to remove nails from trees

MADURAI: He moves around in his car from place to place with a tool kit and a ladder with a mission to remove nails from trees that hinder its growth. Subash Srinivasan, a head-constable attached with Tamil Nadu Police Academy in-service training centre in Ramanathapuram has been on a mission of saving trees affected by rampant nails used for hanging advertisement boards.

He has covered thousands of trees in Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts and removed around a whopping 100 kg of nails in the last two years. Based on the recommendation from Ramanathapuram district superintendent of police, Omprakash Meena, he was honoured with an award for social service by Ramanathapuram district collector K Veera Raghava Rao during Independence Day celebrations this year. He was also appreciated by Ramanathapuram range DIG Rupesh Kumar Meena.

Srinivasan, while he was posted as traffic head constable in Devakottai in Sivaganga district two years ago, noticed that nails crippled growth of trees. Since then he has been using all his free time to remove these nails. He also calls the phone numbers mentioned in the boards to inform them to not spoil health of the trees.

“While there were a large number nails in all the roadside trees, the ones near curves and junctions had more nails. I have covered most of the trees in Ramanathapuram municipal area and I can proudly say that they are growing healthily now,” Srinivasan said. He does not restrict to the place where he works. The native of Salaigramam in Sivaganga district, who is now settled in Sethupathi Nagar in Ramanathapuram town, has nurtured the habit of helping trees wherever he goes. During his visits to Chennai for sports meet, he has removed nails from trees in areas such as Tambaram, Vandalur, Perungulathur and Mannadi.People including his colleagues, higher officers and his family members used to discourage him as they considered it as unnecessary work. However, after he started getting recognitions, they now encourage him. His sons Subash Sethupathi and Kavin Sethupathi join him for the cause during their free time.