Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 8: National Green Tribunal's (NGT), on Monday November 7, stayed the permission given by Karnataka government for cutting down 5,000 trees for Yettinahole project.

The union forest department had given its permission to cut down trees over 13.93 acres of forest in Sakleshpur range for paving way for execution of Yettinahole project that envisages supply of drinking water to Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Bengauru rural, and Hassan districts. Following this permission, the state forest department had issued orders to cut down 4,995 trees and 1,332 bamboo groves standing in the area and transport the same to forest department's stockyard at Hassan.

Environmentalist, K N Somashekhar, had questioned the conditional permission granted by the forest ministry for felling of trees in the NGT. Advocates, Prince Issac and Ritwik Dutta brought to the notice of the green bench that trees are being cut down in violation of laws and without following any regulations meant for forest conservation. They also invited attention of the bench to the fact that financial institutions have not given nod for financing Yettinahole project because of the failure of agencies to ensure compliance of law and rules.

Advocate representing the city corporator, Purushotham Chitrapur, was not present when the bench took up the case. As all anti-Yettinahole petitions are bunched together for hearing, this absence may cause delay in passing judgment, it is being felt.

Justice Swatanter Kumar, who presided over the bench, issued stay order against cutting the trees before adjourning hearing to November 11. On November 11, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd is expected to file objections against the stay order.