Mysuru: The Environment Committee of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) at its monthly meeting, in Yadavagiri, here yesterday, decided to focus on greening of Mysuru in association with other organisations.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, MGP Secretary Dr. M. Mohandas Shenoy, said that the main objective at the meeting was to take up the issue of greening of Mysuru by planting one lakh trees in the coming days, with active participation of youth and concerned citizens along with voluntary organisations.
To start this project, which will be in two phases, this is the ideal time as the monsoon is about to set in. “We will be speaking to institutions like University of Mysore, JSS, Railways and with their permission plant trees in their premises. For instance as the first stage of the project we will plant about 100 trees in Kukkarahalli Lake premises,” he said.
In the second stage which is the most important stage, as the trees need to be nurtured after the planting is done, the volunteers and a few workers will be engaged to protect the trees. A lot of work is involved here for at least two to three years to see the results. “One of the main reasons why we have chosen institutions is to see that there is not much expenditure involved as they themselves will take interest in protecting the greenery. Otherwise we have to spend money on tree guards and other requirements,” said Dr. M.M. Shenoy.
Some of the species that will be planted include rosewood, honne (Indian laurel wood), neem, hippe (Madhuka), Indian fig and wild mango. The Forest Department has come forward to supply the saplings and if there is a shortage then MGP will seek donations from the people to purchase it from other nurseries, he added.
In a power-point presentation, Ashvini Ranjan, Executive Committee member, MGP, said that in the guise of development of the city and road widening, several trees were being axed. Hence, if the city has to regain its past glory as the garden city, citizens’ participation is very vital.
Human greed is overtaking environmental concerns and the people are not coming forward to stop this degradation. He supported his claim by showing slides of axing of trees in various places.
The MGP had embarked on a similar project a couple of years back but on a much smaller scale. An awareness programme will be launched to educate the people of the importance of ‘Green Mysuru,’ with the help of Rotary, Koti Vriksha Prathisthana and others.
About 10 to 12 youths participated in the meeting and assured their support as volunteers. Others present in the meeting included MGP President Shivananda Sahukar, Working President Shobhana, Secretary Venkatesh, Koti Vriksha Pratishtana President Vinayak Bhat, K.S. Narasimhamurthy and environmentalist Bhanu Mohan.
Planting trees is good initiative, but simultaneously you should make efforts to stop cutting, over cementing near roots or even uprooting of trees with the reasons of road construction, electrical hazards during rains, etc. Instead, you should see that cabling is not done passing through the trees. All most all people search for shady place in summers but in vain. Try your best to see that what is already existing on ground is conserved…
Noble work being done by MGP over the years. They can seek assistance from various nationalised banks under their CSR initiatives. Many banks like Canara, Corporation and other banks have their local controlling offices in Mysore, as such decision making process may not be delayed.