Hyder Ali road widening: Forest minister seeks inquiry over indiscriminate axing of trees

Experts feel officials should have considered tree relocation and transplantation; Improve public transport system to ease traffic instead of widening roads, they said.

Mysuru: Taking a serious note of the huge public outburst over indiscriminate cutting of 40 Peltophorum species trees on Hyder Ali road in Mysuru by the Mysore City Corporation, Minister for  Environment and Forests Eshwar B Khandre has ordered an inquiry. He has sought inquiry report within seven days to know if there was a need to widen that road and cut the trees.

Meanwhile, experts have pointed out that the officials should have explored alternatives to save those trees to balance development with ecological conservation.

Also they have felt that widening road is not a solution to ease growing traffic woes, but they should plan to improve public transport system.

Zoologist, B R Guruprasad said, "they should have carried out tree relocation and transplantation which are carried out in several Indian cities to reduce environmental impact during development projects. Bengaluru has successfully transplanted trees for Metro and suburban rail projects. In Delhi, a TreeTransplantation Policy supports relocating trees for urban infrastructure. Gurugram saw one of the largest efforts with over 5,700 trees shifted for the Dwarka Expressway. In Bhubaneswar, thousands of trees were planned for transplantation due to road widening," he said. 

Major Gen (Rtd) Sudhir G Vombatkere said that they should involve public and discuss what they need when they begin to plan any project for the city and conduct a feasibility study. Mysuru's domestic traffic, is growing at over 400 vehicles per day, being registered. So how many roads would they plan to widen and cut trees? Widening roads is not the solution for it. They should plan to improve public transport systems and dis-incentivise personal transport on the Singapore model with measures like imposing higher parking charges, limiting the number of new vehicles registered.

Founding Working President of Mysuru Grahakara Parishat Bhamy V Shenoy, said, "during the inquiry they should check if the officials had studied traffic pattern and if they had done cost benefit analysis. Henceforth we would demand for  public consultation in the future even to fell one tree."

K N Basavaraj, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of the Mysuru Territorial Division, said, “Conducting feasibility studies for widening roads to know the need for it, is the domain of MCC. As per Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, we can permit cutting trees if there is request for road widening to ease traffic congestion or if the trees are dangerous to life and property or if they are dead trees. So approval is granted as per the provisions of the Act. Earlier in the case of Lalitha Mahal road (where tree cutting was not permitted) the department had conducted a public hearing as it is needed only when we permit to cut more than 50 trees."

MCC officials have justified that they felled those trees to facilitate the widening of Hyder Ali Road from existing 10-meter-wide road to a 30-meter width between the SP Office Circle and Kalikamba Temple in Mysuru for over a 350-meter stretch to develop it as a four-lane double road as per MUDA’s Master Plan 2031. 

Explaining the importance of Peltoforum trees which were cut last month, Guruprasad explained, "Peltophorum trees provide shelter and are flower/nectar sources. They harbour many birds such as Purple-rumped Sunbird, Red-vented Bulbul, Common Myna), House Crow, Asian Koel, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-throated Kingfisher, Indian Pond Heron, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Coppersmith Barbet, apart from Bees, Butterflies, Ants, Squirrels, Bats (especially fruit bats), Caterpillars, Moths, Monkeys."

"So Peltophorum species, known for their broad canopies and dense foliage, provide vital shelter to a wide range of organisms, from microorganisms to mammals. The tree barks and leaf litter support microbial life, aiding in nutrient cycling. Its branches and leaves host insects, birds, and small reptiles, offering nesting and feeding grounds. Larger mammals find shade and refuge beneath its canopy, especially in hot climates. This multi-tiered support system highlights the ecological importance of Peltophorum trees in maintaining biodiversity and sustaining various life forms within forest and urban ecosystems alike. Their presence is key to a balanced environment. They should have been saved," Guruprasad said.