Sir,

Being a citizen of Mysuru, I feel pained by the decision of authorities concerned to cut down precious trees to make way for new helipads near the iconic Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel for the proposed Heli Tourism Project.

During my childhood days, just 15-20 years ago, I remember the streets of Mysuru were shaded by large trees with ample foliage. As kids we always played around them for shade from the summer sun. Today travelling down the major roads of Mysuru during summer is such an unpleasant experience, primarily due to cutting down of these road side trees for developmental works.

I agree that as a society development is critical for progress. But development at the cost of health of nature and thereby the well-being of its citizens is untenable.

I hope the authorities will rephrase the word development with “sustainable development” in the dictionaries of the Government. Mysuru from pre-independence times has been a Model State and I hope that we can keep this tradition intact and lead the way with a sustainable development model for the city.

I firmly believe the plans to cut trees for new helipads near Lalitha Mahal is detrimental to the above cause and the authorities should abandon such non-sustainable development plans.

– Abhay M.S. Aradhya, Mysuru, 15.4.2021

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