Stanley G Pinto/TNN

Mangalore, Feb 29: The corporation’s penchant for wider roads does make for a comfortable drive, but at the cost of trees, which are first in the line of casualty: eight peltoforum trees on the Lalbagh-KSRTC Road need to be removed to widen the road. The corporation has sought permission from the forest department.

Though an MCC letter seeking permission to fell the two-decade-old trees was sent a year ago, the deputy conservator of forests has not given the nod yet. DCF Vijay Kumar suggested alterations to MCC’s plan to save the trees which have been shot down by the MCC.

The stretch from Lalbagh to Circuit House is set to be widened. Right now, the 500-metre stretch between KSRTC-Bejai Market is being executed. It remains to be seen what steps the new council takes in this regard, as permission was sought by the previous council.

Kumar said: “If it is inevitable, I can give permission. This stretch requires a slight change in plan, but the corporation is unwilling.’’ If it’s indeed inevitable, Kumar makes it clear he would give permission to cut the trees but with a demand that the corporation plant three saplings for each tree felled. The additional condition he is likely to attach is that the corporation should look them after for five years, after which the trees can sustain themselves.

Will such conditions work? Kumar says that he will ensure that the authority, in this case the corporation assistant executive engineer, is made accountable for the welfare of the trees till five years. “I will ensure that sufficient penalty clause is put in, so that the condition is adhered to,’’ he added.

But Kumar’s major grouse is that the corporation comes to the department only after finalizing the plans. “They should always consult various departments before initiating developmental work. We won’t pose hurdles if a case is genuine, but at the same time I will not tolerate unnecessary felling of trees.’’