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Environmental activists and residents convened by Parisarakkagi Naavu held a meeting in Mysuru on Sunday to coordinate opposition to the proposed felling of approximately 350 trees for a flyover construction project near the Manipal Hospital junction. The group demanded that the concerned authorities release the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for independent assessment by environmental experts and organizations.
The meeting, which included an on-site inspection, affirmed support for infrastructure development but rejected the scale of tree loss as unacceptable, according to Parashurame Gowda, general secretary of Parisarakkagi Naavu. He emphasized that while the organization does not oppose the flyover, the environmental cost of cutting 350 trees must be publicly justified and scrutinized.
Participants, including KRRS leader Badagalapura Nagendra, retired Major General S.G. Vombatkere, and activist Bhanu Mohan, cited historical urban planning in Mysuru and the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, to underscore the city's legacy of tree conservation. They warned that unchecked infrastructure projects risk transforming Mysuru into a concrete-heavy city like Bengaluru or Chennai.
Speakers including PUCL’s Mansoor Ahmed and Reap Benefit’s Sarah Mishra stressed the need for public consultation and highlighted that sapling planting cannot offset the loss of mature trees. Advocate Mannan Khan called for sustainable development that integrates modern infrastructure with environmental and heritage concerns.
The group plans to review the DPR upon receipt and escalate public pressure if necessary; authorities have not yet confirmed when or whether the document will be released.