Mysuru: The protest opposing the proposed felling of 350 trees for the construction of a flyover near Manipal Hospital Junction on the Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway and other parts of the city has intensified.On Sunday, under the leadership of Parisarakkagi Naavu, environmental experts, activists and local residents from the affected areas jointly inspected the trees and later held discussions on measures to preserve them. They shouted slogans against the felling of trees for development and urged the authorities to save trees to save the city.Trees are natural wealth: ActivistSpeaking on the occasion, activist Major General (Rtd) SG Vombatkere recalled the city’s legacy as a green city. He emphasised the wide, tree-lined roads of Mysuru were a result of the vision of Mysuru Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Citing historical documents, he said the Maharaja believed citizens should regard trees as natural wealth and one of the major objectives of the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), established in 1903, was the development of roads lined with greenery.He further recalled that former chief minister D Devaraj Urs enacted the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act in 1976 in response to increasing destruction of urban trees caused by industrialisation and population growth. He pointed out that one of the key objectives of the Act was to regulate and restrict the felling of trees, considering their crucial role in moderating climate, curbing pollution, providing shade and enhancing aesthetic beauty.PUCL member Mansoor Ahmed said that instead of cutting down full-grown trees in areas like SS Nagar and Siddiqui Nagar, more efforts should be made to grow and preserve greenery to combat rising air pollution caused by increasing vehicular traffic.Sara Mishra of Reap Benefit emphasised the need for sustainable development. She said that public opinion must be sought before implementing any major project. Academician Kalachannegowda expressed optimism that the trees could still be saved if people are united in protest.Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra said cities were expanding recklessly and stressed the need to control unplanned urban growth. He also declared the farmers’ union’s full support for environmental protection movements.Parashuramegowda, general secretary of Parisarakkagi Naavu, clarified that the organisation was not opposed to the construction of the flyover itself. However, he strongly objected to the cutting of 350 trees for the project.
