The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has come under scanner for allegedly neglecting afforestation works to compensate the felling of trees along NH 66 from Karwar to Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district. Anant Hegde Ashisar, former chairman, Western Ghats Task Force, told presspersons here on Thursday that nearly 25,000 trees and 700 acres of forest land would be lost for widening the 160-km stretch of the road in Uttara Kannada district.
The Forest Department had handed over forest land measuring 84 hectares in Karwar and 63 hectares in Honnavar division along with 76 acres of non-forest land and 50 acres of mangrove forests to the NHAI and the authority deposited Rs. 81 crore with the government as compensation funds.
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As per the agreement with the Forest Department, the NHAI had to plant saplings on either sides of the NH and take care of their maintenance for seven years. Nearly 30,000 saplings were required for the purpose. But, the NHAI was not taking up the task seriously, he alleged. While the action plan was yet to be prepared, the officials gave flying replies when queried about afforestation plans. Even the Forest Department was not pushing up the matter seriously, Mr. Ashisar alleged. Uttara Kannada district had already lost nearly 1.5 lakh acres of forests for various mega projects. The carrying capacity study report prepared by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, had suggested against further destruction of forests here. The NHAI should not neglect afforestation, he said. The works of road construction and tree plantation should go hand in hand.
Scheme
The State government should re-launch the Karavali Hasiru Kavacha scheme to revive biodiversity in this region and provide Rs. 5 crore for the Karwar and Honnavar forest divisions to develop nursery and other facilities, Mr. Ashisar added.
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