By Bhamy V. Shenoy

April 13 is likely to be remembered as a black day in Mysuru’s environmental history. In the early hours of that morning, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), in an act shrouded in secrecy, carried out a green massacre by axing more than 40 fully grown, decades-old heritage trees lining Hyder Ali Road.

The operation was deliberately executed in the dead of night to avoid public backlash and prevent intervention by environmentalists.

Outraged by what they describe as a heinous crime against nature and humanity, given that the environmental impact of tree-felling resonates far beyond local boundaries — activists and NGOs have launched a full-fledged movement. This time, they say, it will not be a symbolic protest or a photo-op. Public patience has run out.

A petition initiated by the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), demanding a public inquiry and an immediate halt to the road-widening project, has already garnered more than 7,000 signatures. Organisers are hopeful that the campaign will exceed one lakh signatures, given the gravity of the ecological destruction.

In an act of defiance and renewal, saplings have already been planted along the very stretch where the trees were felled. A major event — the candlelight march — is scheduled for April 18 at 6.30 pm near the SP’s office to pay homage to the 40 trees.

Organisers call it a shraddhanjali, a solemn tribute to the trees that silently sustained the city’s ecosystem without ever asking for anything in return.

The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), who sanctioned the tree-felling, claimed he was “convinced” of the need to widen the road based on the Mysuru City Master Plan.

However, critics argue that no cost-benefit analysis was conducted, nor was public consultation held. While MCC reportedly pledged funds to plant 400 compensatory trees (10 for every tree felled), activists argue that no number of saplings can replace the ecological value of mature trees, each worth approximately Rs. 6 crore, as estimated by Dr. Kodira A. Kushalappa, a former Forest Officer.

The DCF’s failure to assess whether Hyder Ali Road genuinely experiences heavy traffic, or to demand data justifying the project, has raised serious questions. Environmentalists are asking whether the justification was merely the availability of funds, reportedly sanctioned from MLA Tanveer Sait’s local area development grant.

If true, activists hope the MLA himself, a known public servant, would be dismayed to learn of the damage his allocation may have unintentionally enabled.

With mounting public support and a growing call for transparency, NGOs have vowed to block the road-widening project at any cost. They point to the successful cancellation of the proposed widening of Lalitha Mahal Road, which was withdrawn after public hearings and silent protests.

Sadly, no such democratic process was followed this time. The felling was done in secrecy — without public knowledge, consultation or consent.

Now, citizens hope the MCC will drop the project peacefully and take steps to restore the green cover by planting and nurturing trees in the same location, even though it will take years to regain what has been lost.

The upcoming candlelight march is being seen as a watershed moment — possibly Mysuru’s own Chipko Movement. Organisers draw inspiration from the iconic 1973 protest led by Sunderlal Bahuguna and the 1730 sacrifice of 362 Bishnoi villagers who died  protecting trees.

They believe Apr. 18 could mark a new era of environmental consciousness in Mysuru, where not a single tree will fall without a proper public hearing.