Destroy Karuvelam Trees

Karuvelam Trees

Acacia Nilotica or Acacia Arabica is the
biological name for Karuvelam trees. Seemai
karuvelam was introduced in Tamil Nadu in the
60's as fuel wood to help the people reeling
under a drought situation.

Where will it grow?

This tree will grow in least water/water scarcity
areas like Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai,
pudukottai, virudunagar and kambam districts.
Several thousands of trees were found in and
around Madurai, Keezhmadurai tank, Vandiyur
and Karisalkulam tanks, Anthaneri, Vilangudi,
Kodikulam, Sellur and Anuppanadi.
Areas Affected
Seema karuvelam is found on 35 acres at Karmal
in Mudukulatur taluk.
There were 3,000 fully-grown 'karuvelam' trees in
Keelmadurai kanmoi, Vandiyur and Karisalkulam
tanks.
In Anthaneri and Vilangudi, there were 2,000
trees and in Kodikulam, Sellur and Anupanadi
there were 1,000 trees.
40,000 hectares were infested with these trees,
with roots running as deep as 70 to 80 feet and
spreading over 30 feet across.
Effects
Karuvelam tree absorbs as much as four litres of
water to produce one kg of biomass. The
species is also known to germinate very fast and
it spreads easily as a weed.
It never shelters birds because they produce less
oxygen but emits more carbon dioxide. It also
affects soil nutrients. It makes it surrounding
droughty.
If there is no rain it starts absorbing underground
water.
If there is no under ground water they absorb the
humidity(the amount of water vapour in the air)
from the air surrounding it. We never use these
trees' products, moreover its roots change the
ground water poisonous.

Solutions

Land owners should immediately take efforts to
remove 'karuvelam' trees grown on private lands.
karuvelam have been occupying acres and acres
of government land including irrigation tanks.
The plant shouldn’t be simply cut or cleared, but
should be carefully uprooted. Partially cut
Karuvelam plants can grow very fast and four
times thicker.
It is essential to cut these trees where ever we
see.
Legal Proceedings by Government
The Madras High Court bench has ordered
eradication of Seema Karuvelam trees from
Tamil Nadu.
The Madurai municipal corporation has banned
the raising of 'seemai karuvelam' trees on private
lands within the city limits.

Relevant Links

www.aravindhhealthcentre.org/1/post/2013/11/
kill-babool-save-eco-system.html
www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/uproot-
karuvelam-plants-corporation/article5260915.ece
www.eco-generation.org/
ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=1885
www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-
tamilnadu/samples-of-vital-organs-of-dead-
elephants-sent-for-tests
/article5997456.ece

Source: Rathinamsaroja Trust