The Hindu

Mangalore, Mar 6: The city may soon lose eight trees near Saibeen complex, a short distance away from the Mangalore City Corporation Office (MCC) on M.G. Road.

The MCC has sought the permission of the Forest Department to cut down the Yellow Poinciana trees, in order to widen the road.

District Forest Officer Vijaya Kumar told The Hindu that he had asked the corporation to try and retain these trees, which had considerable ecological value.

He said top officials from the department and the MCC had conducted a joint inspection, and the corporation had insisted that trees had to be felled. The MCC had written to the department insisting that permission be given.

Mr. Kumar said the department could grant permission on the condition that the corporation plant three saplings for every tree felled in the vicinity and protect them for the next five years.

Areas identified

Mr. Kumar said his department had identified areas where saplings could be planted.

The MCC would have to protect the saplings and water them regularly. Varieties such as Cassia fistula, mahogany, Terminalia catappa (almond) and the species locally known as "hole dasavala" would be planted.

But not everybody is convinced that this will happen. Jayanth Kumar, an electrical contractor, said greenery should be retained as it is. He said the MCC was not known to protect greenery. "It is enough for them to get a photo published once a year while they conduct a tree planting campaign." It’s ‘Vanamahothsava’ was nothing more than a ritual, he alleged.

Others such as K. Ram said that felling trees to widen roads was inevitable.

Executive Engineer of the MCC G.V. Rajashekar said the corporation would try to save some of the trees, if possible, though permission had been sought to cut all the eight trees.

Saplings would be planted as suggested by the Forest Department, he added.