With a large number of objections filed against the chopping of trees for widening the Shivamogga-Thirthahalli stretch of National Highway 13, the Forest and Public Works departments have decided to conduct a fresh joint survey on the project.
The national highways wing of the PWD has planned to widen the stretch from 5.5 metres to 7 metres. In addition to this, the new road will have a paved shoulder measuring 1.5 metres, drainage measuring one metre, and a four-metre space on either side for drawing public utility lines including electricity lines, telephone cables and water supply pipelines. The project is estimated to cost ₹70 crore.
As per the preliminary survey, the plan was to chop 1,396 trees on private and revenue land for the project. The Forest Department issued a notification on December 21, 2016 inviting objections from the public to the chopping of trees.
More than 1,400 objections were filed by environmentalists and locals. Adike Varthakara Sangha, an organisation of arecanut traders, and few transport operators had supported the road widening on the grounds that it would ensure hassle-free vehicular movement along the stretch.
A public hearing meeting on the matter was held in the city on Monday on the objections filed. Speaking at the meeting, K.V. Vasanth Kumar, president of the Shivamogga Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedikegala Okkootta, demanded modification of the plan to save the trees. As the Mandagadde bird sanctuary and the reservoir constructed across Tunga river near Gajanur are located adjacent to the road, environmentalists are asking for expert opinion on the impact road widening.
A few residents of Mandagadde and Gajanur villages present at the meeting supported the road widening and said it would result in the “comprehensive development” of the region. Eventually, there was a heated exchange of words between environmentalists and those in favour of the project.
Subsequently, Mohan Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, said a fresh joint survey would be undertaken on the project to minimise the number of trees to be chopped. The opinion of ornithologists would be taken to ensure safety of the birds in the sanctuary and that of geologists on the safety of Tunga reservoir, he added.
Later, Ravishankar, executive engineer of PWD, told reporters that earlier it was planned to chop trees up to 10 metres on either side of the road to ensure availability of ample space to draw public utility lines. Now, the plan would be modified and trees up to only 8.5 metres on either side would be earmarked for chopping, he said.
