Trees fall by wayside in Ch'nagar

Green space

Even though a circular was sent out by the state government in 2010 advising all local bodies of bringing out a green policy, the circular is yet to be taken seriously. Even CMC personnel are chopping fully-grown trees if it acts as an obstruction.

The urban development authority should improve awareness among people about planting saplings whenever sites are allotted.

According to the rules made by the authority, each person who avails a site has to plant two saplings. If this was implemented effectively, the city would have been much more beautiful.

The layouts developed by the urban development authority is being handed over to the CMC. If local institutions and elected representatives make honest efforts then they would help in improving the environment. Meanwhile, Chamarajanagar Housing and Urban Development Authority (CHUDA) has become inactive, say environment friendly activists.

More than 10 saplings have been planted from Pachappa circle to double road at Ramasamudra when the road development projects were implemented.

However, in a few places, shopkeepers have cut the saplings as they would act as an obstruction to transport goods to their shop.

Having easily cut the trees, the shopkeepers haven’t thought about replanting any sapling. Even the CMC has failed to issue a notice to the shops. Also, trees being cut by house owners has become a routine in the city.

Senior citizen Nagesh opines that CMC has lost all interest to protect the environment. Trees are falling regularly due to the neglect of elected representatives and bureaucrats.

The CMC is responsible for 106 km of roads. They should plant saplings on either side of the road to keep the city green, he added.