The fate of the Yettinahole integrated drinking water project in Sakleshpur taluk hangs in balance as a three-member team from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on Monday visited the project site following a direction by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to verify if there was indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
The NGT, in its order on December 15, had directed the MoEF to send a team to the sites along with the petitioners, who had challenged the project, and assess the damage caused to the environment while executing the project.
The petitioners, in their presentation to the NGT, had stated that more than 15,000 trees had been cut in the work sites, which was denied by the advocates representing the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd.
Taking note of the argument, the NGT had directed MoEF to assess the actual number of trees cut down, and check if compensatory afforestation activity had been take up as per the directions of the tribunal and file a report before January 14.
Conservator of Forests Avinash M. Kanfade, Deputy Conservator of Forests R. Padmawathe and scientist E. Thirunavukkarasu visited parts of Keerihole, Yettinahole, Kadumane, Kadagarahavalli, Aluvalli and neighbouring areas. Petitioners K.N. Somashekhar, Kishor Kumar, V.V .Bhat, and Purushottam Chittapura accompanied the team during the visit.
The team interacted with local residents and petitioners, besides officers from the Forest Department and KNNL representatives. The government officers often did not agree with the argument posed by the petitioners.
Hassan Deputy Conservator of Forests M.L. Manjunath maintained that the project implementing agency had taken permission for tree felling and the department had booked cases wherever trees were cut without permission. “We have booked three cases so far,” the officer said.
However, there was no clarity on the number of trees cut without permission. Mr. Somashekhar and other petitioners maintained that hundreds were cut without mandatory permits. A few local residents also supported their argument.
Mr. Kanfade said the team would submit its report after collecting field data. “We will talk to the residents and all concerned on damage caused to the environment,” he said.
The team will visit a few more places on Tuesday. Mr. Kishor Kumar, one of the petitioners, told The Hindu: “Hundreds of trees were cut and such places had been covered by sand deposits. The team may not notice such lapses during the visits.”
