The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday sought response from the State to a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to authorities to implement ‘Comprehensive Green Madurai Action Plan’ for restoration of ecological balance and enhancement of urban green cover in Madurai.A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel was hearing the petition filed by C. Selvakumar of Madurai. The petitioner also sought a direction to the authorities to implement a comprehensive Madurai Heat Action Plan.Environmental protection has now become one of the foremost constitutional obligations of every government. Climate change, rapid urbanisation, disappearance of urban forests, increasing surface temperatures, shrinking waterbodies and deterioration of ecological infrastructure have emerged as major threats to public health and sustainable development, he said.Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India. It has developed around Vaigai river which constitutes the principal ecological lifeline of the region. Traditionally, 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. However, over the past few decades, these natural systems have been progressively weakened due to rapid urban expansion, infrastructure development and inadequate environmental planning, he said.He sought a direction to authorities to prepare, approve 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, and restore Vaigai river ecosystem by undertaking large-scale plantation of native tree species along both banks of the river.He also sought a direction to authorities to restore degraded riparian vegetation, protect wetlands and other ecologically sensitive areas connected with Vaigai river system, identify suitable government and public lands through GIS mapping, develop green corridors, urban forests, green parks and other ecological infrastructure by adopting scientifically recognised afforestation practices.Further, he sought a direction to authorities to undertake avenue plantation and compensatory afforestation along major roads and highways in the district, prepare and implement a comprehensive Madurai Heat Action Plan incorporating urban green infrastructure, shaded pedestrian corridors, cooling shelters, public drinking water facilities, heat-wave mitigation measures and other climate resilience initiatives.He said a District Green Task Force under the Chairmanship of Madurai Collector comprising representatives of all the departments, scientific experts and other stakeholders should be constituted for effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of the measures, conduct annual Tree Census, maintain geo-tagged records of plantations, publish periodical progress reports in the public domain and ensure transparency and accountability in implementation. The court posted the matter for hearing to September 8. Published - August 12, 2026 10:56 pm IST