MANGALORE : In a surprising development, District in-charge Minister and State Minister for Environment and Forests Krishna J Palemar himself instructed the Forest department authorities to permit felling of trees in MCC limits to facilitate road concretization works.
At the KDP review meet held in the city on Tuesday, Mayor Shanker Bhat had complained that the forest department was not permitting felling of trees that were coming in the way of the concretization of the roads.
However, the forest officer replied that he could not be blamed as the tree officer had to issue permission for the same. Still the trees that were found to be dangerous have been felled, he said.
The Deputy Commissioner informed the meeting that the road works have been delayed as there was delay on the part of the forest department to permit felling of a few trees in some areas. ” Though permission had been sought to fell four trees on Kankanady Valencia road and three in Karangalpady, of the 43 trees in the area, the forest department has not permitted for the same,” the DC said.
The District Minister who was a bit upset on hearing the complaints immediately instructed so- “Steps should be taken to fell all trees that are required to be felled to facilitate concretization, within one week.” But the minister’s ruling is described as something which was totally against the interests of the environment portfolio that he was holding.

Related news:

1. Environmentalists will be booked, says Mayor : Row over felling road side trees.
2. 206 trees sacrificed for road concretization in city?
3. Felling of trees in Valencia opposed Contractor threatens Eric Ozario
4. Valencia: citizens remove road divider Controversy over tree felling
5. Karwar Forest Dept’s novel idea to save trees !