The Hindu 08.11.2010
MCC draws flak for plan to fell trees for road-widening
Staff Correspondent
The Mysore Grahakara Parishat has filed its objections to the Forest Department
‘MCC has not conducted any scientific traffic flow studies or thought of alternatives’
MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation’s proposal to cut 201 trees to
widen various roads in the city has drawn strong criticism from many.
The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), which has filed its objections
to the Forest Department, said the MCC should not have taken up widening
of roads without considering the fate of the trees.
“It is presumptuous on its part to start widening works and then seek
permission from the Forest Department for felling. This is happening
very often and any leniency will only promote felling of more trees
elsewhere,” opined MGP president Srimathi Hariprasad.
According to the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act of 1976, it is
the foremost responsibility of the Forest Department to preserve trees
and give permission for cutting only when the reasons are overwhelming.
She said that tree experts Kodira A. Kushalapa, former Regional Chief
Conservator of Forests, and S. Shankara Bhat, former professor of
Botany at University of Mysore, have inspected the trees proposed to be
cut. On Vani Vilasa Road where the road has already been widened in
anticipation of permission for felling, the 99 trees proposed to be cut
are well-grown, healthy and young and can survive for long. They must be
saves, she urged. “The trees can offer very good shade for parking
two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles. Therefore the trees should be
retained,” she suggested.
One or two of the trees which are unhealthy could be replaced with
tall tree seedlings, planted with tree guards. The trees on the road
were choked due to the asphalting without, not allowing any soft soil
around the trunk. “This may lead to ultimately death of these beautiful
trees. The soil around the base should be dug to free the trees,” she
said.
“We have strong objection to removal of rows of trees in 4-5
different locations, when there is scope for saving and retaining, as
done in other roads such as Kalidasa Road,” Ms. Hariprasad contended.
Decongesting the roads is the stated goal of road widening by MCC. In
many of the roads, widening is being done at the expense of footpaths.
This will force pedestrians to walk on the roads, thus obstructing
traffic.
The authorities, in their hurry to provide broad and smooth roads to
motorists, seem to have forgotten to conduct scientific traffic flow
studies and have not thought of any alternatives before submitting
applications for tree felling.
