Environmental activists alleged that over 650 trees along the nearly 33 km Pollachi - Palladam road have been felled to facilitate road widening and re-laying works.

Syed of Green Care said that when they approached the Highways Department the official machinery refused to pay heed. The norm is that for every tree axed, 10 saplings will have to be planted. But on the contrary, the official machinery gave a green signal to the contractor to axe the 650-odd trees and workers have begun uprooting the trees. The entire stretch of the road wore a barren look, and the roadsides wee filled with wooden logs.