A woman farmer broke into tears after more than a hundred trees that she had nurtured for years were cut down to make way for a high-tension electricity tower at Vadathorasalur in Kallakurichi district on Saturday (August 8, 2026).

The farmer, Selvi, along with her son Balamurugan, a dentist, had maintained a diverse and naturally cultivated farm of over 100 trees, including mango, teak, mahogany, and papaya. The trees had been growing on her farmland for over 10 years and were raised in memory of her late husband.

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) had recently inspected the land to set up a high-tension power tower and transmission line for the Thiyagadurgam area.

Selvi had requested the district authorities to shift the power line slightly so as not to disturb the trees. While officials had reportedly assured her that an alternative route would be arranged, they went ahead and felled the trees.

The trees were cut down using machinery right in front of Selvi and Balamurugan. While Selvi clung to the trees, police personnel forcibly removed her. A video of the incident has since gone viral.

Speaking to reporters, Selvi said the officials and police had acted in an inhumane manner. She said that while the government promotes tree-planting programmes on the one hand, it was destroying trees nurtured over 10 years.

The trees were worth an estimated ₹2 crore, but TANGEDCO officials stated that only ₹97,000 would be given as compensation, Balamurugan said. The compensation should be paid fairly, as had been done in other districts, and alternative routes should be planned so that trees on agricultural land are not affected, he said.

Published - August 10, 2026 03:36 pm IST