Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 13: With the department of forest and environment giving its clearance to cut down 4,995 trees and 1,332 bamboo groves spread over 14 acres of forest in Sakleshpur, Hassan district, decks have been cleared for the project to move ahead. The trees and groves so cut have been ordered by the state government to be stocked in the timber yard at Hassan. The actual measurement of timber and firewood so got need to be got certified by deputy forest conservator before shifting them to the timber yard.

The progress of Yettinahole project, which proposes to provide drinking water to Kolar, Chikkamagaluru, and Bengaluru urban districts against which various organizations have been agitating and fighting, was facing stumbling block in the form of non-clearance of the state's proposals to clear forest areas. There were allegations that scores of trees were cut down without obtaining prior approval of the ministry of environment. There are a few cases against the project before National Green Tribunal. The state had given an undertaking to the tribunal not to cut down trees without getting clearance from central government. The tribunal is likely to issue its final orders relates disputes raised shortly.

The forest ministry however, when approving the proposal of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd to clear the forest in around 14 acres of forest, has placed conditions that the area should continue to remain under forest department after project execution, steps should be taken to hand over land that is equal in size to forest department where forest should be grown, after completing works, about 40 hectares of land considered as dumping area should be restored and developed as forest after completion of works, water should be pumped only between June 15 and October 31 every year, etc. A total of 53 conditions have been set out by the department, it is gathered.