MYSORE: Hundreds of people staged a protest in front of the Forest Department's office here on Thursday against "reckless" tree felling in the city under the pretext of "development" and rapid erosion of green cover.

Led by the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM), they criticised the Forest Department for its "failure" to prevent tree felling by government agencies such as the Police, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL), Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and the Mysore City Corporation (MCC).

It is reckoned that 2,000 trees were felled here in the past few weeks and the city police have come under flak for wanton cutting of trees in the name of "scientific streamlining of traffic" or under the pretext of road widening.

The association drew attention of the Conservator of Forests, Mysore, to a meeting held last year and chaired by the former in which he promised to "strictly curb" tree felling and take steps to increase the green cover. The Conservator had announced that tree felling will not be permitted except under exceptional cases, and even this will be allowed subject to terms and conditions. The Conservator had also announced that even the police will not be authorised to cut trees without priory approval of the Forest Department.

The impression that the public got was that the city's green cover will be saved. But now they feel betrayed as trees are being felled with unceasing regularity across the city. The latest being the felling of nearly a dozen massive trees at Saraswathipuram. These trees provided shade and relief to motorists apart from providing a lush green cover. But the entire stretch is now barren and the residents of Saraswathipuram are peeved over the brazen act of the police.

The protesters also referred to certain promises made to the public after a meeting held on September 26 last, but have never been implemented by the Forest Department. The Deputy Conservator of Forests had promised the people that tree courts will be constituted to verify and finalise the applications submitted to the Forest Department in case if anybody wanted to cut trees. This court was supposed to meet on the third Saturday of every month, but this is yet to take place, according to M. Lakshman, convenor of the association. The Forest Department had promised to identify ancient and giant trees and categorise them as heritage trees to prevent them from being axed by the different agencies of the Government. But, the entire stretch of Bogadi Road from Sarawathipuram 1st Main to the beginning of Vishwa Manava Double Road opposite the Kukkarahalli Lake, which was dotted with scores of giant trees that cast a splendid shade and made driving a pleasure, were mercilessly felled to widen the road.

Environmentalists had urged the MUDA and the MCC to leave "breathing space" for the roots of the tree and not asphalt the road to the extent where the roots are covered. But the MUDA and the MCC have failed to adhere to this appeal and many trees are gradually wilting, as water cannot percolate.

The association listed a few more points to draw attention of the Forest Department and threatened to launch an intensive agitation if it failed to arrest the eroding green cover of the city.

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