Permitted to axe 272 trees, but planted 15300 plants in Mysuru in 2024-25: Forest Department

DCF Basavaraju said the cities growing much faster than they envisaged and they are forced to permit the cutting of trees for widening of roads and other reasons.

Mysuru: The officials of the Mysuru city corporation have submitted applications to the forest department to cut 476 trees from April 2024 to March 2025. This includes one application to cut 40 Peltophorum trees for widening of Hyder Ali road which was done three weeks ago.

The department has given permission to cut 272 trees. But, DCF Mysuru territorial division K N Basavaraju informed that apart from permission given to cut trees, they have also raised 15,300 plants for a distance of 51km in Mysuru division in 2024-25 to enhance the green cover of Mysuru district which is just 13 per cent while it should be 33 per cent, to maintain ecological balance, as per Country's forest policy.

116-year-old Saalumarada Thimmakka reacting to this said, "When I raised trees about 90 years ago on road sides, I had planted them at a wider distance with a long term vision, considering the probable widening of the roads in future, so that the trees lasted forever. If the officials cultivate trees with this vision, they need not cut them for road widening or other reasons. Trees are like our children, we should not cut them..

DCF Basavaraju said that they raise trees considering the development for 20 years. The cities growing much faster than they envisaged and they are forced to permit the cutting of trees for widening of roads and other reasons. Earlier, they planted exotic species like Peltophorum trees on road sides. But now they plant native species trees with a wide canopy and height like Ficus trees on road sides, he said.

Forest officials also said that after confirming that there were no new developmental projects coming up in near future, they plant seedlings/saplings on either old roads without trees or new roads. They maintain the trees for five years and at least 70 to 80 per cent of them survive.

Trees planted

DCF Basavaraju informed, "From April 2024 to March 2025, in Mysuru division, the department has cultivated 1800 plants each for a distance of 6km each in R T Nagar layout, Bogadi bank colony and Basaveshwara nagar park-3 on Mosambayanahalli road; 500 plants for 1.67 km on J P Nagar third stage; 750 plants for 2.50km in Indus layout park-3 near Mosambayanahalli road; 550 plants for 1.83km on Mysuru bank adhikaari gruhanirmana sahakara sangha park-1 on T Narsipura road; 900 plants each for 3km each at Marashettihalli to Devalapura road, Mahadeshwara temple to Tantigulla road of Varakodu; 2250 plants for 7.50km in roads and parks of Vijayanagar 4th stage."

"They have even planted 500 plants near the All India speech and hearing campus on Mosombayanahalli road, 300 plants in Netajinagar park-2, Nadanahalli, 400 plants in Lalithadrinagar North layout for a distance of total 4km. They have also planted 500 plants on Dasara exhibition ground and 550 plants in Pinjrapole society near Race course road, for a distance of 3.50km. In H D Kote taluk, they have raised 900 plants each for 3km each on Bachegowdanahalli to Chikkereyuru road, and Itnagudda road to Jakkahalli-Tumbasoge road," Basavaraju said.

He added, "We have planted Mahogany tee, Neem, Peepal tree, Soapnut tree, Bullet wood tree (Ranjalu), White fig tree(Basari), Java Plum tree(Nerale), Terminalia arjuna tree(Holematti), Jackfruit, Indian Beech tree (Honge), Portia tree (Buguri), Butter tree(Hippe), Tabebuia rosea, Bauhinia malabarica (Basavanapada), Indian Almond tree (Kaadu badam), Lagerstroemia speciosa (Hole Dasavala), Cannonball tree (Nagalinga) and others" Basavaraju said.

MCC Horticulture inspector Y C Puneeth Kumar, said, "The Forest department doesn't permit us to cut all the trees for which we submit applications. Among applications to cut 482 trees, they permitted to cut 324 trees in 2022-23; among applications to cut 462 trees they permitted to cut, 292 trees in 2023-24; This year from April 1 to April 15, we have received applications to cut 25 trees," he said.

Puneeth added, "MCC is also working on improving the green cover of the city by cultivating about 12000 trees of 35 species of native trees in one acre each in Parks to develop dense native forests in 20 years using Miyawaki method. We also raising trees in Crematoriums and other places."

DCF Basavaraju said that as per Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, they can permit cutting trees if there is a request for any public purpose like road widening, construction of road, canal, tanks, building; or if the trees are dangerous to life and property or if they are dried/dead trees or required for construction purposes or if roots percolate foundation of buildings. The department issues public notice to invite objections when they permit the cutting of more than 50 trees at the same place.