Chiang Mai: Local residents yesterday turned to social media to tell their side of the story following the controversial pruning of two 100-year-old yang na trees at Kong Sai intersection in Saraphi district.
The sight of the two old trees with their branches cut off has become an eyesore to many and has sparked concern among environmental activists that more trees along the Chiang Mai-Lamphun road would meet the same fate.
Stop Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya on Thursday petitioned the Chiang Mai Administrative Court to issue an order to prevent the Chiang Mai provincial administrative organisation (PAO) and its president from pruning any more of the iconic trees along the route.
On the "Changwat Chiang Mai" Facebook page, a woman, who lives near the trees, posted a message along with photos to clarify why the trees were cut back so severely. She claimed large branches fell on her house and car last year due to strong winds.
"For those who told us to avoid [the trees], how can we when we live here?" she said. Meanwhile, Somchart Watthanaklam, director of the PAO's engineering division, said the office is responsible for ensuring the route's yang na trees are not a threat to public safety.
According to Mr Somchart, the province experiences storms in March and April with strong winds causing dry or dead tree limbs to fall, damaging property and threatening motorists' safety.
However, he said the office has been working to rehabilitate the remaining trees, especially their roots, as several of them have been damaged by concrete structures. He added that there are 949 yang na trees along the 10-km route.
