Mysuru: Environmental activists and concerned citizens staged a protest in front of the Forest Office in Ashokapuram recently, demanding the immediate transfer of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Ravindra.

Protesters alleged that he has repeatedly granted permissions for large-scale tree felling without conducting mandatory public or environmental consultations.

According to the demonstrators, ACF Ravindra, currently serving at the Mysuru Forest Head Office, has approved the cutting of thousands of trees over the years, resulting in significant ecological damage.

They pointed out that when 50 or more trees are to be removed, public hearings are mandatory to allow collective decision-making. However, they accused the officer of bypassing these protocols, leading to indiscriminate felling across various parts of the city.

The protesters also condemned the authorities’ failure to compensate for the loss of green cover through re-plantation. Despite large-scale tree felling in the name of development, officials have offered little more than excuses, often citing lack of funds, for the lack of replanting efforts. Environmentalists warn that such negligence is exacerbating ecological degradation, especially amid rising urban temperatures.

Parisara Samrakshana Samithi President Bhanu Mohan led the protest, joined by environmental activists Bhamy V. Shenoy and Aravind Sharma, along with members of the KRS Party.

The protesters asserted that strict action must be taken against ACF Ravindra and called for immediate reforms to ensure transparency, accountability and ecological sustainability in all tree-related decisions.