Sir,
The recent move by the Minister for Environment and Forests, Eshwar B. Khandre to seek a report on the felling of 40 mature trees on Hyder Ali Road in Mysuru is a welcome step, especially against the background of the PWD’s proposal to cut down 175 trees and the marking of 125 more for road widening along the Manandavadi Road and Dattagalli.
However, the justification by the authorities that public protests are “common” during development projects is deeply concerning. The idea that stakeholders have no voice in such decisions, which concerns the crucial issue of Mysuru’s green future, undermines the very essence of participatory democracy and the responsibilities of public institutions.
The Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, clearly lays down the procedure to be followed in such cases. An application is mandatory to seek permission to fell trees, accompanied by a site plan indicating the exact location, species, girth and reasons for removal.
The Tree Officer must conduct an inspection, consider alternatives such as transplantation and stipulate conditions for compensatory planting. These details should have been shared with the public rather than brushing aside their protest.
In countries like New Zealand and Australia, civic councils handle tree-felling proposals with transparency and public involvement. For instance, in Auckland, the Council publicly publishes each application in its original form, complete with signatures, in its community journal and online.
Copies are placed in their offices for the stakeholders’ benefit. The public is invited to submit objections, which are then discussed in open forums. This protocol is followed even for a single tree.
In many instances, public opposition has led to project redesigns or delays to preserve trees, especially heritage varieties.
Trees are not just ornamental — they are critical to our environmental health and urban resilience. They cool our cities, improve air quality, shelter a variety of birds and offer aesthetic benefits. Each tree lost is a severe blow to the ecosystem and the community at large.
Civic authorities who operate with public funds have accountability to taxpayers. Ignoring public opinion on such important matters that concerns our city’s environment is nothing short of bad governance — it is a violation of their right to be heard.
– Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist, Melbourne, Australia, 22.4.2025
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This post was published on April 22, 2025 5:55 pm