JOIN USCh'nagar: Priceless trees disappear in thin air
Tree-lined roads in the district are disappearing as many trees on road sides and in front of houses are being felled.
The practice of pruning trees has increased for construction of compounds or for shades in front of shops.
Though residents are involved in felling of trees, environmentalists say that the district administration has not taken any measures to check this.
Trees are found in large numbers only on the district court road. Many trees on B Rachaiah double road, which provided shade have now decreased in front of some shops.
But nobody is interested in planting saplings. Although the city municipal council plants saplings every year, they are eaten up by goats as there is no suitable protection.
According to rules of the Urban Development Authority, those buying sites to build houses should compulsorily plant two saplings in front of the house.
If the rule was followed by residents, the district would have had plenty of trees. Only a few residents plant saplings, some are interested in growing only ornamental plants.
Amidst the district administration’s negligence to nourish plants by roads, even the scheme of issuing free saplings to residents is not implemented. No awareness programmes are held in schools or colleges, complain parents.
Senior citizen Nagarajappa says, “In many layouts, roads are encroached upon for construction of compounds. They should be cleared and saplings be planted.”