A much-liked rubber tree along the Railway Trail is earmarked for destruction despite getting a temporary reprieve after workmen had started chopping off branches.

However, a nearby resident explained that the felling is unavoidable, since the tree’s aggressive roots are in danger of rendering her home uninhabitable.

The woman who requested its removal, after the extent of the damage was discovered last year, has asked not to be named to protect her privacy.She said the Department of Parks confirmed yesterday that work would resume on the offending tree today.

“Environmental health officers have been here to assess it, and they have sent a strongly worded letter to Parks to demolish the tree,” she said.

“It has pushed through the cesspit of my house and into my water tank. Those walls are 12 inches thick; my husband built them himself.”

The woman said the tree, near Forest Hill Drive in Warwick, had completely breached her cesstank and contaminated her water supply.

“Based on what they can see, the roots would have gone right through it and put sewage into the tank, which I have been absorbing,” she said. “They have to cut off the roots near the tree.”

Earlier this month she discovered that the house’s “very large tank” had been emptied. She believes the residence’s foundation is now weakened. Roots are also visible in her garden.

The resident added that she has developed serious health problems that could be linked to the tainted water at her home. Getting rid of the tree has been a task long in progress: the Department of Parks agreed to take the tree down in October, just in time for two hurricanes to leave staff burdened with urgent tasks.

Work on the tree began last week on the scenic stretch of the trail just west of Ord Road — but the job came to a halt after walkers asked for the tree to be spared.

The India rubber tree is known for its powerful roots, which can extend a long distance in search of water.