Citizens oppose felling of trees

In a meeting held at the chamber of the mayor, who is also the chairperson of Tree Authority a competent authority to deal with such issues, representatives of various organisations demanded the mayor to revoke the decision to cut 123 trees on the road for widening the stretch starting from Maharanaprathap Singh circle to archgate near Siddarthanagar. This follows a decision taken by the previous mayor Sandesh Swamy in a meeting held on February 4, 2011.

In his version convener of association of concerned and informed citizens of Mysore (ACICM) M Lakshmana brought to the notice of the mayor that a first meeting of concerned public to elicit opinion over the issue on June 8, 2009, there was a strong objection to any such move on the part of the authorities concerned. Over 500 people also registered their protest by signing against axing of trees. Prior to this, the then deputy commissioner had written to the commissioner of city corporation urging the latter to not to resort to any such activity.

At a meeting held on January 25, 2010 at Mysore urban development authority (MUDA) it was decided to take up road widening works retaining the existing greenery. Both MUDA and MCC commissioner attended the meeting. Moreover, the issue is before the court.
When this is the reality, the decision of the previous mayor is unethical, Lakshmana told the mayor.

Mysore Kannada Vedike president Balakrishna warned of aggressive agitation if the local body ignores the sentiments of the greens. Another environmentalist Bhanu Mohan endorsed the words of the earlier speakers.