Latest news with #HasiruPatha-Karnataka
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
81 trees axed for constructing college auditorium in Kalaburagi
As many as 81 trees were felled on the Government First Grade College (autonomous) premises for the construction of a proposed auditorium building in Kalaburagi city on Monday. These trees were located in the two-acre area behind the college building and were razed within a few hours. This comes just 10 days after the Forest Department had launched 'Hasiru Patha-Karnataka' and 'Hasiru Hejje Kalaburagi' programme in Kalaburagi city, with an aim to plant three crore saplings across the State in a year and to plant 28 lakh saplings in Kalyana Karnataka region for increasing the forest and green cover patch. Sachin Avati, assistant manager at RITES Ltd., said that the land has been earmarked for constructing a 1,500-capacity auditorium under the SCP/TSP scheme and under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) at an estimated cost of ₹13.2 crore. Forest officials T.N. Monappa and Ramesh told The Hindu that college authorities have sought permission for cutting the trees for the auditorium. Initially, the department had suggested to the college authorities to identify alternative land for the project. 'Of the 81 trees marked, we are trying to relocate those that have been there for two to three years, while the bigger trees older than 10 years have to be axed as they require specialised equipment for relocation,' Mr. Monappa said. Principal Savita Tiwari said that the removal of trees was an unavoidable aspect for the construction of the auditorium. However, expressing dissatisfaction with the decision of cutting down trees on such a large area, Dr. Tiwari said that a mini garden has been established in the college and more trees will be planted in the coming days.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
28 lakh saplings to be planted in five districts of KK region, says Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre
The Forest Department has set a target of planting 28 lakh saplings in five districts of Kalyana Karnataka region with the aim of increasing the forest and tree cover area in the region, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre has announced. He was speaking at the launching of 'Hasiru Patha-Karnataka' and 'Hasiru Hejje-Kalaburagi' programmes under Vanamahotsava-2025 in Kalaburagi city on Saturday. Mr. Khandre said that the Kalyana Karnataka region has less than 5% forest cover; to increase the green cover in the region the Forest Department has launched a massive plantation drive with a target of planting 28 lakh saplings, which includes seven lakh young trees, in five districts of Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Yadgir, and Koppal. He explained that reduction of forest cover drives climate change and further contributes to global warming and alters weather patterns, so tree plantation initiatives are crucial for raising environment awareness and combating issues like deforestation, soil erosion, floods and droughts; so the department has launched 'Manegondu Mara, Urigondu Vana' [One tree for every home, one forest for every Village] programme for conducting awareness campaigns to encourage people about tree plantation. The Forest Department had planted 8.5 crore saplings in the State in the last two years and this year the department has set a target to plant three crore saplings across the State, Mr. Khandre highlighting that the post-plantation maintenance is crucial for tree survival, said that each saplings will be geo-tagged with a survey number which will be monitored by third-party private agency. The Minister said that efforts are underway to establish wildlife sanctuaries, parks, zoos in Kalaburagi district, and the department was planning to develop an eco-tourism park in Chandrampalli in Chincholi taluk. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge, legislators B.R. Patil, M.Y. Patil, Allamprabhu Patil, Thippannappa Kamaknoor and Jagdev Guttedar were present.
