Nailed…!

• Hundreds of nails and clamps driven into avenue trees for Dasara illumination
• More and more nails drilled into trees in city for illumination with every passing year while old ones are not removed

Mysuru: Mysuru city is getting a bridal makeover ahead of this year’s grand Dasara festivities, with the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) and its electrical contractors taking up large-scale illumination and decoration works along key arterial roads.

While the illumination is expected to add to the city’s festive appeal, with circles, junctions and landmark buildings set to glow, the manner in which lights are being installed on hundreds of roadside trees has raised concerns among environmentalists.

Workers were seen this morning fixing decorative lights on trees along Chamaraja Double Road up to the Maharaja’s College Grounds. Contractors have identified around 130 trees along this stretch for installing festival lights. While preliminary trials were conducted earlier, full-scale installation is now underway and is being extended to other parts of the city.

Environmentalists have objected to the use of nails, iron clamps and metal pegs to fix the lights to trees in close proximity without leaving any space. Several trees have hundreds of nails hammered into their trunks and branches, with decorative lights and powerful LED fixtures being hung from the trees.

Green activists have urged the authorities to strictly monitor the work and ensure that light strands are wrapped around trunks and branches instead of using nails, clamps or iron pegs.

They warned that repeated nailing can injure the bark and expose internal tissues to infections, besides weakening trees over time. The practice could also affect birds and other creatures that depend on trees for shelter and nesting.

“Sparrows are almost extinct, and squirrels and parrots too could disappear if such practices continue,” the activists said.

They also pointed out that wounds caused by nails and screws can expose the tree trunk and branches to bacteria, fungi, insects and other pathogens. While mature, healthy trees may withstand some injuries, repeated damage could pose a greater risk to young or already weakened trees, they said.

Protest last year

It may be recalled that the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) had strongly opposed the practice of wrapping decorative bulbs, wires and cables around roadside trees during Dasara illumination last year.

As part of its ‘Appiko Chaluvali,’ MGP members staged a demonstration in front of the DC’s official residence on Hunsur Road, hugging trees that had been illuminated to highlight the damage caused by the practice.

They also met the then District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and apprised him of the ill effects of illuminating roadside trees.