Latest news with #Neelamegam
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Activists fume as tree is reduced to trunk
Trichy: Amid calls for stringent enforcement against those illegally axing and trimming trees at public places in Trichy city, a 15-year-old native tree at Thiruvanaikoil was unscientifically trimmed by unidentified people on Thursday. Locals said a Pungan tree (Indian beech) on Kumbakonathan road was found trimmed completely in the morning. While prior permission from the revenue department is mandatory to trim or axe trees at public places, the Pungan tree was reduced to a trunk, infuriating environmental activists here. This was the fourth such incident of trees at public places being targeted in the last few months. "The tree was not causing any harm to the electricity lines. We were told that a section of people who were unhappy with vendors putting up makeshift vegetable stalls below the tree have trimmed the tree," K C Neelamegam, working president, Thanneer eNGO, said. Citing an incident in Coimbatore where a man was penalized Rs1 lakh for unscientifically trimming a peepal tree, Neelamegam said that lack of such enforcements in Trichy encourages residents and commercial outlets to axe and trim native trees in public places. Revenue officials in Srirangam said they are yet to receive a formal complaint about the incident.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- The Hindu
Activist seeks action against illegal tree pruning in Tiruchi
The branches of a fully grown Pungai tree located outside Lakshmi Vasam on Kumbakonathan Salai at Thiruvanaikovil in Tiruchi were illegally cut down in the early hours of Thursday, without obtaining prior permission from the Tiruchi City Corporation, a civic activist K.C. Neelamegam has alleged. In a statement, , secretary, Thanneer, a voluntary organisation, said that the tree, which was over 15 years old, provided shade and served as a resting spot for the public and local vendors selling vegetables. Residents had previously raised complaints about people gathering under the tree, which some considered a public nuisance. To put an end to this, all the branches of the tree were reportedly cut down without authorisation. As per legal provisions, cutting down or damaging trees in public spaces without official permission is a punishable offence under Section 51(A) of Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. Additionally, the High Court has mandated that for every tree cut for development or safety reasons, even with permission, 10 new saplings must be planted, maintained, and nurtured. Citing a recent case in Coimbatore, where a person was fined ₹1.04 lakh by the Corporation for unauthorised tree pruning, activist K.C. Neelamegam has urged the Corporation Commissioner and District Collector to take immediate action against those responsible. He has also demanded that authorities ensure the planting and upkeep of 10 new saplings in the area. 'We can only plant saplings, but if we intend to cut a fully grown tree, even if it's on private property, we need approval from the authorities. We are working to raise awareness among the public about the unauthorised felling and pruning of trees. Steps are also being taken to provide a dedicated helpline number to report such incidents,' said Mr. Neelamegam.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
This 100-year-old British-era reservoir at Ponmalai carved out of rock keeps Trichy's trains on track
About a century ago, the British decided to shift the central railway workshop operating from Nagapattinam to Trichy, more than 100 km away, for the geographical advantage it offered. Being a landlocked city and not a coastal region like Nagapattinam, it was safe from natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis. About 200 acres were found for the workshop at Ponmalai (Golden Rock) in Trichy city, primarily to maintain steam locomotives. Everything was set except the water source. Ponmalai had no river, canal, or tank, only a hillock from which the locality derived its name. The Cauvery River was about 6 km north of the site, but there was no water storage facility to cater to the needs of the railway workshop. The British then converted a portion of the Ponmalai hillock into a reservoir to store water pumped from the Cauvery and distribute it to railway workshops and workers' quarters. A century later, the hill reservoir is still in use, the last of its kind. "Modern day's local bodies could well learn from the hill reservoir's success story and the way it has been maintained. I saw the reservoir being used since I was a child," says K C Neelamegam, a retired and second-generation railway employee. The foundation for the Ponmalai workshop was laid in October 1926. As Ponmalai's subsurface, made of hard rock, was not fit to dig open wells, the British developed a head water works at Sarkarpalayam on the Cauvery riverbed, 5 km away. Cast iron pipelines were installed all the way to the Ponmalai hillock. A portion of the hillock was chosen to be made a reservoir. Similar to how a natural dam is constructed using topography, a vertical random rubble masonry wall was raised 20 ft. Water was stored between the vertical wall and a portion of the surface of the hillock to supply water. The Ponmalai hill reservoir is made of five compartments, each named from 'A to E' and having the capacity to store 23 lakh litres to 33.1 lakh litres. Partition walls were built to make compartments, so they could be cleaned without affecting the water supply. Giant pumps were used to get the water to the reservoir. At 60 ft above the ground, the reservoir is the tallest structure in the township, and so the sheer force of gravity was enough to get water to the workshop. "The cast iron pipelines are still in use. Over time, five more overhead tanks were built in the township, but the hill reservoir continues to be in use," says Neelamegam. While the reservoir served 5,000 settlements around the Ponmalai workshop, over the past few decades, many quarters have been abandoned. Several railway employees moved out to build their own homes. However, the water requirement has not shrunk as the operations of the central railway workshop have increased. Sarkarpalayam head water works pumps 60 lakh litres of water a day to the Ponmalai workshop. Even in peak summer, the reservoir brims with water, and the region has never seen drought. "Kollidam bridge and Fort station RoB, which were also built by the British, are being dismantled. But the Ponmalai reservoir is unique to railway employees. As it approaches 100 years of existence, railway management must celebrate the milestone," says H Ghouse Baig, a retired Ponmalai workshop employee. Official sources say plans are on to celebrate 100 years of the Ponmalai reservoir to educate people about its significance. Ponmalai workshop has been recently okayed for maintaining Vande Bharat rakes.
