Controversy erupts over tree felling on Hyder Ali road

Shyam Sundar Vattam

CH News

The axing of over 40 trees by the Forest Department on Hyder Ali Road, adjacent to the office of the Superintendent of Police in Mysuru, is snowballing into a major controversy.

Questions are now being raised about whether the Forest Department officials held a "tree court" on the spot, as required when there's a demand to cut trees for road widening, or if the trees were felled without following due procedure. In fact, the existing road was already quite broad, and there was no apparent need for the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to widen it. Traffic jams were rarely witnessed on this stretch, except during the ten-day Dasara festival. Otherwise, the road remained mostly free-flowing throughout the day.

Back in 2009–10, there was a demand to cut around 100 trees on Lalitha Mahal Road, citing the narrow width and frequent accidents. However, environmentalists opposed the move, and then Deputy Conservator of Forests Shaswati Mishra held an open "tree court" at the site. She eventually rejected the proposal, saving the trees thanks to her concern for the environment.

In the case of Hyder Ali Road, it remains unclear whether MCC authorities consulted the city traffic police for data on vehicle density or accident rates to justify their case for clearing the trees. Environmentalists argue that the Forest Department failed to follow any such procedures and granted blanket permission to the MCC, which then engaged a contractor to fell all the trees at once.

The Mysuru tree felling incident has now made headlines across the state, thanks to social media. Thousands of people have shared photos of the felled trees, and a condolence meeting has been scheduled for Friday at 6:30 PM. A candlelight vigil will also be held to pay homage to the lost green cover.