
Tree felling: Greens seek probe panel
Shilpa P | NT
Mysuru: Environmentalists of Mysuru are planning to write to Forest Minister Umesh Katti to institute a high powered committee to investigate how 20 fully grown trees were axed on December 27 on the road between sixth and 10th cross in Vijaynagar first stage in the city for road widening. Speaking to News Trail, environmentalist, Mr Bhamy Shenoy said, “We are planning to urge the minister to institute a high powered committee to look into who is responsible for the irresponsible act of felling these trees. and the institutional changes which need to be brought in to prevent such acts in future.”
He said, “Two DCFs, former DCFs and the current DCF Kamala Karikalan had refused to give permission for cutting these trees. The officials claim that the PWD had initially asked for the felling of 54 trees and finally when it was reduced to 20, permission was given by an Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Rangaswamy,” Mr Shenoy said.
He added, “When the activists met ACF Mr Rangaswamy he said, that he visited the site and was convinced there was a need for widening the road and so he permitted the cutting of the trees. When asked if a survey was conducted to assess traffic density, he said no survey was conducted,” Mr Shenoy said. “When asked why there was no public hearing, Mr Ranganath’s response was that such hearing are held when 50 trees or more are involved. He also said there is no Tree Authority in Mysuru. Why did he not wait for the constitution of a Tree Authority,” Mr Shenoy asked.
On December 26, environmentalists of Mysuru had performed the ‘last rites’ of three trees which were were felled at Yadavgiri on December 13.