Minister expresses ire over tree-felling on Hyder Ali road
Minister for Forests, Ecology, and Environment Eshwar B. Khandre expressed his ire over permission accorded to axe 40 trees on Hyder Ali Road.
He was interacting with the Forest Department officials at a progress review meeting here on Sunday. The Minister said permission should be accorded only in such cases when all other options are closed, and it was inevitable to cut down the trees.
The felling of 40 giant trees resulted in a public uproar as each of them was over 40 years old and local residents had stated that the existing traffic density did not warrant tree-felling to widen the road.
Mr. Khandre said trees that were standing tall for years and posed no danger should not be felled, and all efforts should be made to conserve them.
Incidentally, an official inquiry, which probed the issue, has absolved the Forest Department personnel and cleared them of any wrongdoing. The report has come under criticism as it only documented the sequence of events and whether the legal process of issuing permit to fell the trees were complied or not.
The Minister also directed the officials to take up massive tree plantation drive in Mysuru during the ensuing Vana Mahotsava.
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