The State government has cleared the diversion of 0.98 hectares of forest land in the Chamundi Hills for the proposed widening of the existing road.
The notification diverting the forest to the PWD has been published in the State Gazette dated April 28, 2016 in which it states that the “Government is pleased to accord approval” under section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 for diversion of 0.98 hectares of forest land for road widening from City Circle to Mahishasura statue – a distance of nearly 1.4 km - in favour of the executive engineer of the PWD Mysuru.
It was only recently that the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone for a slew of construction works at the hill top and directed the PWD Minister to take steps to widen the road.
The terms and conditions entail upon the PWD to plant 10 times the number of trees to be felled for road widening. The stipulation is to plant 200 saplings per km and no labour camp can be established on the forest land.
The existing road is to be widened by another 5 metres as per the plan which was first conceived by the then district in charge Minister S.A. Ramdas only to be buried following stiff opposition to it but has been revived once again.
The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), which is mustering the support of the activists and concerned citizens to oppose the project, said the clearance accorded by the Forest Department was suicidal.
“There are not many cities in India which is blessed with a hill that acts as a lung space and watershed and despite the impact of climate change which is evident and the imperatives of protecting the forests, the authorities have given their consent,” decried R. Chandraprakash, president of the MGP. The need of the hour was to conserve the Chamundi Hills as an ecological hotspot of biodiversity and not vandalise it, Mr. Chandraprakash added.
While the MGP is planning to approach the court, it has also urged the citizens to contact it with suggestions on the next course of action to protect the Chamundi Hills.
It may be contacted on 0821-2515150
