CHENNAI: Chennai is witnessing the classical development versus environmental debate yet again as students, faculty and well wishers of the Pachayappa’s College are up in arms against the State Government’s proposal to raze the lush green campus and make way for a metro station in its vicinity. All this is happening at a time when global efforts are being taken to understand the economical value of ecosystem services provided by natural resources. According to an estimation of senior policymakers in the Union Environment Ministry, a 50-or-100-year-old-tree, in its lifetime, will provide oxygen worth Rs 3.5 lakh, water recycling worth Rs 4.5 lakh, soil conservation worth Rs 3.75 lakh, pollution control worth Rs 7.5 lakh and shelter worth Rs 3.75 lakh. If the proposal for metro rail is to be cleared by the state government, Pachayappa’s college campus will lose close to 300 trees, say college sources. If one were to apply simple math based on the above estimation, the city will lose ecosystem services worth a whopping Rs 69 crore approximately – and all this for one single metro station, which according to experts can be realigned outside the premises of the college. “While similar metro stations were planned inside the Madras Medical College and KMC campuses, they were later shifted due to pressure from these campuses,” says VMMR Andavar, Chairman of the Association of University Teachers. “When they can do it in other colleges, why can’t they do it here and preserve the crucial resources?” “There are 45 varieties of trees within our campus of which 20 varieties are threatened and indigenous species,” says K Somu, a Botany student. “If the states of affairs continue like this, we will have to buy pure oxygen in packets from stores, as it is practised currently in certain parts of China and Japan. Then, there will be absolutely no role for the Pollution Control Board and Department Of Environment, which already is redundant,” he added. “This is not just a problem concerning the students and teachers of Pachayappa’s college. But it is an issue that concerns the residents of Kilpauk, Chetpet and other areas surrounding the college,” says Payal Premkumar, president of the Kilpauk Residents Welfare Association. “We, as residents of this area, have benefitted from the green cover in the college and the clean air it provides. Hence, we will not allow the authorities to cut the trees,” she added. Due to awareness and constant threats of protest, the Pachayappa’s trust board, which had earlier accepted to cede land for metro work, has now retracted its position and has decided to join the fight with the students and faculty. It is not just the ecological value, say students and teachers. The campus, which has been the same for generations, is a heritage symbol of the city. Changing its face will affect the city’s character, they say.
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