A backhoe being deployed to remove ‘seemai karuvelam’ species from a vast tract of land adjoining one of the main roads in Pudukottai district.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A major drive is under way in Pudukottai district involving different government departments to clear seemai karuvelam trees (Prosopis Juliflora) - an invasive species- from waterbodies and revenue lands besides on lands along the roads with the twin objectives of protecting groundwater and environment. The exercise was taken up about three months ago covering various village panchayats in phases in the district. The pace of removal of seemai karuvelam species is being constantly reviewed by the District Collector of Pudukottai.The massive drive has resulted in the removal of seemai karuvelam from 736.29 acres so far in various locations in the district, said official sources. The work had been split into three phases with the first phase covering 13 panchayats, 26 panchayats in the second phase, and 13 panchayats in the third phase, totally covering 52 panchayats till now, the sources said.The invasive species had been uprooted from many waterbodies, revenue lands, and lands belonging to the highways department. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Revenue, Water Resources and Highways departments besides Town Panchayats and Corporation were involved in the drive as the lands came under their control. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department alone had cleared seemai karuvelam from about 514 acres of its land; while the Revenue department had cleared the invasive species from around 57 acres and the Water Resources department from 89 acres.The intensified drive was launched as per the direction of the Madras High Court with the exercise monitored by the retired High Court Judge A. Selvam and District Collector M. Aruna. It was launched to protect groundwater and environment, a senior official said and added that the focus was primairly on waterbodies, revenue lands, and lands on the roadsides.Post removal of the invasive species, the official authorities have taken up the task of planting seedlings of native tree species such as vembu, pungan except on waterbodies with the help of volunteers. The exercise of removal of the species is continuing all over the district with District Collector M. Aruna reviewing its progress every Friday, the sources said.Owners of private lands where growth of seemai karuvelam was noticed have been asked to remove them by July 31 at their own cost failing which the government would remove the species and recover the cost from them. Vinyl boards have been installed by the district administration at various panchayats informing the general public about the removal of seemai karuvelam from individual patta lands. Published - July 04, 2026 07:03 pm IST
