Environmentalists oppose tree felling for highway project

Mangaluru

Several environmentalists, including members of the National Environment Care Federation (NECF), have raised objections to the proposed felling of 2,214 trees in the villages of Taggarse, Yelajith, Golihole, and Jadkal for the Byndoor-Ranibennur National Highway project.
In a formal objection submitted to the tree officer and deputy conservation officer of Kundapur division, NECF's Shashidhar Shetty alleged procedural lapses and a lack of transparency. He said that it appears that officials deliberately withheld specific details, such as the road stretch and kilometre chainage, in the public notice, creating confusion. Moreover, holding three public hearings on the same day at different times across various villages is highly questionable, the objection stated.
Shetty further pointed out that as per  government  notification of October 3, 2016, the designated tree officer does not have sole authority over the said road stretch. He stressed that Golihole and Jadkal villages fall within the eco-sensitive zone of the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary and are excluded from the purview of the Forest Conservation Act, 1976.
The officer had no authority to conduct the public hearing, which appears to have been organised unlawfully and with the support of National Highway officials to serve vested interests, he alleged.

Calling for the immediate cancellation of the public hearing, NECF demanded that authorities instruct the National Highway department to seek tree felling permission in non-forest areas only after securing mandatory forest and wildlife clearances. We strongly oppose the destruction of trees that stood for centuries in the name of development, he said in the objection.