Citizens plan ‘final rites’ of three trees in Mysuru!

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Mysuru: In a unique move, concerned citizens of Mysuru will hold the ‘final rites’ of fullygrown gulmohar trees in Yadavagiri in Mysuru on December 26 to protest against the cutting of trees, allegedly by a private clinic for better visibility and for parking of vehicles of patients.

Yadavagiri is one of the oldest areas in Mysuru and this is where noted English short story writer, R.K. Narayan lived. This area has a green canopy and provides clean air and shade to residents. Of late, in the name of development, several trees have been cut which has deprived residents of clean air.

Bhamy V. Shenoy, Founder Working President of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) said that when the forest department was earlier contacted to take action against the guilty, the officer was annoyed with them. He said that he was too busy to investigate and unless they told him who felled the trees, he would not be able to act. They also had to file a written complaint even after photos of the felled trees and the exact location were sent. He wondered what was preventing the forest department from taking suo-motu action?

This is not the first time the forest department has been negligent in performing its duties. On February 27, this year, a peepal tree with a 12 feet diameter trunk which was 40 year old, was felled.

Several NGOs including MGP led by Srikanth Koti of Koti Vruksha, held the ‘final rites’ of the tree to impress upon the forest department the loss due to the felling of the three fully grown old Gulmohar trees in Yadavagiri on December 13 in violation of the Tree Act.

MGP members (S. Shobana and Bhamy Shenoy) have now met the recently appointed DCF, Kamala Karikalan who assured action. She said the department has CCTV proof of those behind the ‘massacre’ and her department has filed a FIR. The maximum penalty of Rs 50,000 per tree would be imposed on those guilty of cutting the trees, she added. More information can be obtained from Bhamy V Shenoy, Founder Working President, MGP ( 886 109 6205).