Karnataka - Mangalore   

MCC goes back on its promise to plant trees

M. Raghuram

There is no space for trees between Lady Hill and Urva Stores

MANGALORE: Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) appears to be going back on the promise it had made to the people living in Lady Hill and Urva Stores areas that it will plant trees on the newly concretised road between these two areas.

The 1.3 km stretch that was concretised recently is reaching its final stages of completion, but there is no space for planting trees anywhere on the stretch. MCC had felled 12 trees, including rain trees (Deodhar), Mango trees, Goli, and various local varieties. When residents of the area objected, the then Mayor Purandardasa Kulur promised that he would personally see to it that trees are planted in accordance with the Karnataka Protection of Tree Act.

According to the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), Mangalore Division, Anita Arekal, it is binding on those who fell trees for both individual and public causes to plant twice the number of tree they fell. This was conveyed to the MCC officials even before they sought permission in 2004. The tree officer has now been directed by the DCF to look into the matter.

When contacted, the tree officer of Mangalore, Manjunath Shetty told The Hindu that Mayor K. Ashraf had summoned him sometime back and wanted to know how best trees could be planted on the stretch between Urva Stores and Lady Hill. The Mayor had also told Mr. Shetty that he will have to attend a special meeting to discuss the issue later.

However, according to resident associations, the MCC is going ahead with the plans of laying interlocking pavements without making any arrangement for planting trees. The associations said that there is enough space for planting trees between Lady Hill and Sharada Niketan. However, in approximately the next 200 ft, the road width narrows down.

The stretch widens near Akash Towers and continues to be the same till Urva Stores. According to local corporators Shashidhar Hegde and Kamalaksha Kundar, this stretch can hold at least 50 trees on each side. When the contractor who has been engaged to carry out the laying of interlocking pavements was asked if he had been instructed to leave space to plant trees, he answered in the negative. The associations are now planning to appeal to the DCF and give them permission to plant trees themselves if the corporation fails to maintain greenery in their locality.

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