Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 27: After many complaints were received about certain trees which looked like posing grave danger due to vulnerability in monsoon months, the trees concerned were uprooted. Under the supervision of the forest department, 61 acacia trees were axed.

There were many acacia trees at Harekala, Konaje and Pavoor villages. When travelling by roads in these places, people come across many acacia trees. A look at these trees reminds us of Harekala Moideen who led the afforestation revolution in these areas. The acacia saplings planted here have now grown strong and tall. Huge trees pose dangers. In the past, sensing that they were dangerous, the government had issued the notification to cut them down. However, this was not executed and therefore, people, power lines and vehicles continued to face threat. These trees often fall on power lines, electric poles, roads or houses and create problems.

As the trees from the Grama Chavadi all along Harekala road were posing danger, the panchayat and people's representatives had sought to cut them down. Adyar bridge is now being built and by the time the bridge work is completed or sometime afterwards, this road will be widened. These trees would have posed problems for the road expansion. Therefore, the MLA had written to the forest department recommending to fell these trees. Under the supervision of forest official, Ravikumar 28 trees in the first phase and 33 in the second phase were uprooted.

The logs of these trees will be auctioned on November 30 at the forest department through an online auction, duly maintaining transparency.

Deputy range forest officer Ravikumar S said that the MLA had asked to cut down trees as they were posing problems for the people. He said that trees which were creating problems were identified and cut down. He said that there is information about the road widening and on the basis of this plan, saplings will be planted during the rainy season.