Karnataka - Mysore   

Greens seek heritage tag for `Dodda Aladamara'

Special Correspondent

The banyan tree near Alanahalli covers about 20 guntas of land

NO PROTECTION: The `Dodda Aladamara' near Alanahalli on the outskirts of Mysore. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: While the Forest Department has no qualms over tree felling to facilitate "development", the Committee for the Protection of Heritage Trees, which is a citizens' initiative, has taken the lead to help protect trees in the city.

Members of the committee members led by A. Ramalingam and other environmentalists visited the giant banyan tree near Alanahalli on the outskirts of the city on Sunday and sought heritage status for the tree.

They also identified other trees in the city and sought protection for them.

The initiative is reckoned to be significant to conserve the green cover in and around Mysore as tree felling for "development and growth" has assumed serious proportions.

The banyan tree, also known as "Dodda Aladamara", covers about 20 guntas of land. Hence, Prof. Ramalingam, K.B. Sadanand, a botanist, and U.N. Ravikumar, environmentalist, suggested that the Forest Department should acquire additional four acres of land to facilitate the growth of the banyan tree and thwart any construction near it which may arrest its growth. Senior officials of the Forest Department, who attended the meeting under the banyan tree, agreed to discuss the issue pertaining to land acquisition with the villagers who worship the banyan tree as a deity. The committee listed out a few demands for conservation of the "Dodda Aladamara" and said the highway to T. Narsipura should be realigned by a few metres, the area around it should be fenced and villagers, whose land may be acquired in future, should be adequately compensated. The big banyan tree is about 6 km from Mysore and is one of largest of its kind in the State. There is growing concern that giant trees are at risk of being vandalised in the absence of protection from the Forest Department.

Sequestered in the backdrop of the Chamundi Hills, the "Dodda Aladamara" has remained largely unknown to the people of Mysore.

But the villagers living near Alanahalli offer special prayers to the tree on auspicious occasions.

Reckoned to be a treasure trove of biodiversity, the "Dodda Aladamara" harbours different species of bats, mynahs, birds, squirrels, and insects within its massive canopy. Prof. Ramalingam said the tree could be around 200 years old.

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Greens seek heritage tag for `Dodda Aladamara'

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