SWD line skirts around rare strychnine tree on ECR

When the expansion of East Coast Road was on the drawing board, what seemed a possible death sentence for an old strychnine tree at Ponni Amman Koil in Injambakkam was revoked. When the State Highways Department spelt out its plans for the trees on ECR to the Chennai district green committee, it was inevitable that this strychnine tree would take a generous bite out of the powwow.

Though this tree fell well and truly in the line of the expansion work, a hedge of protection would be placed around it. In Chennai, strychnine trees signify a rarity. This tree being old, the possibility of transplanting it elsewhere was ruled out. It had to be protected where it stood. The promise that was spelt out behind closed doors is being fulfilled on the ground, as is evident from the curve the just-constructed stormwater drain has taken to avoid running into the tree.

Published - January 11, 2025 06:18 pm IST