Joint Action Committee opposes tree felling for Kambala, seeks action
A Joint Action Committee comprising the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, Parisarakagi Naavu, Team Mysuru, and several pro-Kannada and progressive organisations has strongly
A Joint Action Committee comprising the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, Parisarakagi Naavu, Team Mysuru, and several pro-Kannada and progressive organisations has strongly condemned the alleged felling of trees and destruction of the environment in the name of preparations for the proposed Kambala event during Mysuru Dasara. In a press release, the committee alleged that while the government has repeatedly claimed that no trees would be felled and the environment would not be harmed for the Kambala event, the ongoing preparations have resulted in tree felling and damage to the lake ecosystem at Sathagalli.
The committee said that 36 trees were illegally felled on June 26, in Survey Nos. 85, 88, 106 and 107 at Sathagalli, following which the Forest Department registered an FIR on June 27. It alleged that another 33 trees in the same area have now been marked for felling. According to the committee, the land, owned by the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA), had been reserved as a park and open space. A proposal to construct a stadium there had been dropped nearly four years ago after environmental groups and activists objected, arguing that it would destroy the existing lake and a large number of trees.
The committee alleged that the present government has transferred the land from MDA to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports for the proposed cycling velodrome. “However, vegetation was cleared and trees were felled even before the land was formally handed over by MDA,” alleged Parashurame Gowda of Parisarakkagi Naavu. The organisation claimed that apart from cutting trees, the authorities destroyed shrubs, grass, small plants and the habitat of birds, describing it as a serious dereliction of duty and an illegal act. The committee demanded that the government initiate action against the officials responsible and urged the Forest Department not to grant permission for any further tree felling in the area.
The committee further stated that despite opposition from elected representatives, farmers’ organisations, Dalit groups, Team Mysuru, pro-Kannada and progressive organisations, heritage experts, senior citizens and environmentalists against organising Kambala during the Dasara festivities, the government was continuing with preparations that were leading to environmental degradation. Citing the prevailing drought conditions and environmental concerns, the committee appealed to the government to drop the proposal to organise the Kambala event during this year’s Dasara in Mysuru.
The BriefWire