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.........Read More

Source: Express Buzz