With infrastructure works proposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in and around Mysuru, including a flyover near Manipal Hospital and road widening towards Nanjangud and T. Narasipur, the Mysuru Grahakara Parishat has raised strong objections to the proposed felling of 541 trees, urging forest authorities to reassess the impact of the projects on the environment.

In a letter addressed to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Paramesh, Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy, founding working president of Mysuru Grahakara Parishat (MGP), questioned whether alternatives had been explored to minimise or avoid tree cutting before finalising the projects.

Explore alternatives

Clarifying that activists are not opposed to development, Dr. Shenoy stressed that infrastructure expansion must be undertaken with careful environmental consideration, especially in the context of escalating climate change. “At a time when the planet is witnessing rising temperatures, we must go out of our way to protect the environment,” he said.

Drawing attention to a past instance, Dr. Shenoy cited Lalit Mahal Road, where a proposal in 2010 to fell 32 trees for road widening was halted following public protest and intervention by the then DCF. “Today, that stretch remains green, suggesting that alternatives can exist,” he noted.

Economic value of a tree

Dr. Shenoy questioned whether the NHAI had accounted for the economic value of the trees proposed to be felled. Citing a study by Dr. Das (1979), he said a fully grown 50-year-old tree could be valued at around ₹9 crore. “By that estimate, the loss to society from felling 541 trees could exceed ₹5,000 crore. Do the benefits of these projects justify such a loss?” he asked.

He urged the Forest Department to seek detailed justifications from NHAI and ensure that all workable alternatives are examined. “Activists would continue to support projects that are both socially beneficial and environmentally friendly,” he added.