‘Tree felling at Sathagalli for Dasara Kambala, not cycling velodrome’

Mysuru: Parashuramegowda, General Secretary of Parisarakkagi Naavu organisation, has alleged that authorities violated the law and damaged the environment by felling trees in the name of preparations for the Dasara Kambala.

Addressing a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan in Mysuru recently, he said 17.5 acres of vast lush green land in Survey Nos. 85, 88, 106 and 107 at Sathagalli near the VTU Regional Centre was ordered to be transferred from the Urban Development Department to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports on May 27, 2026.

However, the official handover took place only on July 22. In the meantime, on June 26, officials of the Sports Department felled around 36 trees and cleared shrubs and bushes even before the land was formally transferred.

An FIR was registered on June 27 in connection with the incident. Subsequently, the construction agency wrote to the Forest Department seeking permission to remove the trees.

The Forest Department directed that only site-cleaning work be carried out while ensuring that the remaining trees were preserved. However, further correspondence seeking permission to fell additional trees has raised several questions, Parashuramegowda alleged.

He claimed that while permission was initially sought to remove all the trees, the request was later revised to 18 trees. However, the Forest Department reportedly marked 33 trees for felling, raising suspicions over the process.

He further said that although the Government has stated that the land is intended for the construction of a cycling velodrome, no detailed project report has been prepared and no tenders have been invited.

“In such a situation, the hurried removal of trees appears to be aimed at preparing the site for the Dasara Kambala rather than for the proposed velodrome,” the activist alleged.

Parashuramegowda said the issue would be brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretaries of the departments concerned and the Lokayukta.

He added that the matter would also be raised in both the Legislative Assembly and the Council.

Meanwhile, environmental activists plan to launch an ‘Appiko Chaluvali’ campaign to protect the remaining trees. A petition opposing the proposed Kambala has already been submitted and a representation will soon be made to the Chief Minister, said Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President Badagalapura Nagendra.