NH-169 widening: Greens ask for resurvey to save trees

Mangaluru: Environmentalists here have urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and forest department for a resurvey, in the presence of the public, with the intention of saving trees from being needlessly axed, for the widening of NH-169 between Bikarnakatte and Mijar, which is an 18.5 km stretch.
According to an estimate, more than 3,000 trees will be axed. The road is being widened by the NHAI, from Bikarnakatte in Mangaluru, to Sanooru Junction near Karkala, out of which the first 18.5 km falls under the Mangaluru forest division, while the rest comes under the Moodbidri forest range.
The forest department held a public hearing at the range forest office (RFO) in Hoigebazar on Wednesday, in connection with the felling of 2,616 trees, that are standing on government land in the Mangaluru forest division. About 900 trees are on private land, and most of the landowners have reportedly brought a stay on the land acquisition. Meanwhile, 11 people filed their objections to the felling of trees in writing, while three persons voted in favour of it.
The activists took serious objection to the forest department conducting the survey to mark trees for felling, without the public being involved. Stating that the landowners have brought more than 17 stay orders on the widening of this highway, they asked why the authorities are felling the trees in a hurry, without even waiting for the stay orders to be vacated. They criticised the forest department for not giving wide publicity to Wednesday’s public hearing.
H S Lingegowda, project director, NHAI, said that the width of this stretch was reduced to 45m from 60m, to save many trees. Only those trees that come in the way of 45m, have been marked for felling.
However, citing several examples, the activists said that several trees were axed unnecessarily in the past. Environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche said that a resurvey in the presence of the public, had helped save several trees on the Padil-Pumpwell stretch. It should be a win-win situation for both. “Several small trees that have not been listed, will also be axed. Also, roads must be designed, keeping the trees in mind,” he said.
ACF Subramanya said that citizens can verify the list of trees marked, during a spot visit with forest officials. The officer said that efforts will also be made to transplant trees. Special land acquisition officer Aruna Prabha, RFO Prashanth Pai and other officials were present at the meeting.