Sir,

While it is needed to widen roads when traffic increases and there are no economic ways of reducing such traffic, it may force us to fell trees.  However even when we need to widen roads and fell trees, it is often found that authorities do not apply their minds to save them. However, it is a reality based on my experience of participating in many such public hearings.

Has a proper study been done to assess the real need for widening the roads on Mysuru-Bengaluru National Highway 275? Can we take a look at it to study the assumptions? If it is really required, are there alternatives to widening the roads?

Studies have showed that the worth of an average tree is about Rs. 50 lakh. On that estimate, by felling 209 trees we are destroying almost Rs. 100 crore worth of national wealth. The fact that for every tree felled three or more trees will be planted will not justify destroying such wealth, if we cannot justify the savings of widening the roads. Has any study been done to find out the savings to the society by widening? If no study has been done, can we do it before permission is given to fell those trees?

In short, we need far more information than what is provided so far. Hope the Forest Department will not give permission until they can get the information which I am suggesting.

– Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy, Member, MGP, Mysuru, 7.7.2018

NOTE:

1. Only those who sit at the wheel know the urgency of further widening this Mysuru-Bengaluru road. Others, who travel might doze off through half the journey or might be engaged in conversation oblivious of the traffic jam and the frustration of the driver. Only those who deliver know the labour pain. These self-righteous environmentalists are like arm-chair journalists who have left their imagination to run wild.
2. There need not be a public hearing for a project the need of which is obvious. Only after a thorough study such expensive projects are considered for execution.
3. Issue of felling of trees is similar to the man-animal conflict faced by Forest Department and villagers. You can save the animal if the Forest Department does its job of maintaining the forest property properly. Then animals will remain in the forest. Here, the trees must go or be relocated wherever possible to widen the road. New trees could be planted after work is completed.
4. Please suggest feasible alternatives to widen the road immediately before the trees are felled, if you have such a wonderful idea. Valuable prize is yours.
5. The last paragraph reads like clichéd pedantry of anti-abortion and human rights fanatics. Remember Mrs. Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 in Ireland because the law did not allow abortion to save her life. Now, mercifully and wisely, the law is changed.
6. The correspondent seeks more information on this project! I am reminded of a Buddha’s parable. Young Siddartha and his cousin Ananda were playing in the Palace courtyard. A pigeon which was shot with an arrow dropped on the courtyard. When Siddartha went to pull out the arrow, Ananda said, “Don’t, let us first find out who shot that arrow, why and was it poisoned.”

Siddartha said, “Ananda, by the time you collect those information this pigeon would be dead.” So saying Siddartha pulled out the arrow and saved the pigeon. Should I say more.

– KBG, Editor-in-Chief

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