The environmental organisation Parisarakkagi Naavu has decided against filing any objection to the proposed felling of 137 trees for construction of an Occupational Healthcare Centre in BEML factory on the outskirts of Mysuru.

Parisarakkagi Naavu took the decision after a delegation of five of its members visited the BEML factory premises on Saturday and inspected the site. They also held discussions with the officials before deciding against opposing the proposed felling of the trees.

Citing the reasons in a statement here, Parisarakkagi Naavu’s general secretary Parashuramegowda said the factory’s campus extends over 450 acres and has more than 50 per cent green cover.

As the existing healthcare centre is very small for a total of 1,890 people including its workers, staff and officers, who are employed at the factory premises, the need for another healthcare centre has been recommended by ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Certification body, he said while pointing out that the factory management is required to comply with this requirement.

As the proposed healthcare center is being constructed near the compound abutting the main road and is close to the main gate, the proposed healthcare facility will enable injured persons to be shifted smoothly to outside hospitals for further treatment after receiving first aid. “In addition, the proposed healthcare facility will also facilitate emergency first aid to members of the public injured in road accidents taking place around the factory premises,” Parasarakkagi Naavu’s press statement said.

The senior officials of BEML had assured the delegation of environmentalists that efforts would be made to save as many trees as possible instead of cutting all the 137 marked trees. 

“They have also assured that saplings ten times the number of trees felled would be planted and nurtured. The officials also assured that native species and fruit-bearing plants would be planted within the factory premises to enhance bio-diversity,” Mr. Parashuramegowda said.

While the delegation from Parisarakkagi Naavu comprises Mr. Parashuramegowda, Ravi Bale, Bhanu Prashanth, Vishwanath and Sudheer Ganapathi, the BEML officials present during the inspection included General Manager Sudhakar S, HR Manager Karithirumal and Deputy general Manager Malatesh K.

The environmentalists’ visit to BEML came after the Forest Department invited public objections to the proposed felling of the trees in the campus situated in Koorgalli village of Yelwal hobli on the outskirts of Mysuru.

The proposal included the removal of 47 teak trees, 13 acacia trees, 10 mahogany trees, 50 trees belonging to different wild species, nine Felloform trees, six silver trees, one orchid tree and one honge tree.