Government Order to prevent concretisation of tree bases by road sides in entire state soon: Khandre

Mysuru: Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said that he would issue a Government Order (GO) within 15 days, to ensure that one-metre radius around the base of all trees by roadsides be left un-concretised and filled with soil, to facilitate percolation of water to the roots, to promote their health and survival, in the entire state.

The minister informed this, during an interaction with DH on the aspects explored in a series of reports in the DH on tree protection, after 40 trees were felled on Hyder Ali Road in April. A DH Impact report was published on June 4, on Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) setting a model by clearing concretisation bases of 108 trees on a total stretch of 11.44 km on eight major roads of Mysuru city, and taking measures to prevent concretisation in future.

About the lack of rules or guidelines in the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, for action in the cases of trees being concretised or nailed or winded up with electric wires, he said, "I will convene a meeting on preservation of trees, soon. I will discuss with officials of the Forest department and legal experts, to check if we have to amend the Act or pass an ordinance, to ensure that the people comply with the GO".

Following a report in DH on May 12, and directions from DCF, Mysuru territorial division, K N Basavaraju, MCC Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif not just got the tree bases on eight roads cleared, but promised to clear it in the entire city. In order to prevent concretisation of trees in future, Asif even got a council decision approved so that any person who has concretised the trees should deconcritise within months, after which a fine of Rs 2,000 will be imposed. The MCC has decided that henceforth all work orders will have conditions that the contractor will leave/restore breathing space for water absorption. While appreciating the MCC initiative, the minister aims to preserve trees in the entire State.

When asked about the lack of tree census in the State, Khandre said, "Forest survey of India surveys the greenery. Following the tree plantation initiative by the State Forest department, the green cover has increased by 1 per cent over the past one year. If we thus increase the green cover by 1 per cent every year, we can reach the target of having 33 per cent green cover in the next one decade. Besides, we will consider a tree census".

Referring to the felling of 40 trees on Hyder Ali Road, when asked if the tree planting by roadsides can be so planned that there would be no necessity to fell them for road widening, in future, the minister said, "It is difficult to assess future developments. But, we have directed the officials to plant saplings only after completion of NH or SH projects. There would be little space on the highway, while farmers wouldn't permit planting on their land. We have told the forest officials to take the opinion of the people and permit cutting of trees only if it is inevitable, only if it affects people's lives".

While most applications for tree felling being received by the MCC and Forest department are from the general public, if the foundation of their homes are affected the minister said, he will consider, when it was pointed out that people need information on the right species to be grown near homes.

When asked if they can develop urban forests under Miywaki method to improve green cover, he said, "Funds allotted for afforestation is limited, with which we take care of plantations and maintain them for three to five years".

When asked if they can utilise CSR funds for it, he said, "We will explore the possibilities".