Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 22: Around 7,540 trees in approximately 39 acres of reserved forest land are proposed to be felled as part of the widening of National Highway 73 in the Charmadi Ghat region. Environmentalist Vivek M of Mangaluru has submitted a representation to senior officials of the central and state forest departments, urging that the proposal be subjected to public scrutiny before the trees are felled.

In his representation, Vivek provided details of the project and stated that the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force of Karnataka had recommended in-principle Stage-I approval on September 10.

According to the site inspection report of the deputy conservator of forests, Mangaluru Division, the proposed road passes through a tiger corridor. The report has recorded that elephants regularly move through the area and that necessary measures should be taken to ensure their free movement. However, according to the representation submitted, the wildlife clearance process has not been initiated at this stage, and a detailed plan to mitigate the impact on wildlife has also not been submitted.

The proposed road passes through the Charmadi-Kanapadi Reserved Forest and the connecting area of the Kudremukh-Pushpagiri Tiger Corridor identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The area consists of naturally grown tropical rainforests, deep valleys and streams.

The forest diversion proposal covers only an 11.2-km stretch, from the Dakshina Kannada side of Charmadi village up to the Chikkamagaluru district border.

The representation also raises concerns over the possibility of additional forest use and tree felling if further road-widening works towards Mudigere are taken up as separate packages.

It states that instead of implementing the corridor as a single project, the project proponents may proceed with road widening in stages through separate packages. This possibility is a matter of concern, the representation states.