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The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Environmental activists disrupt road widening work in Mysuru, seek assurance on tree park
Nearly 200 environmental activists objected to the road widening work initiated by authorities on the Hyder Ali Road in Mysuru, where scores of trees were felled a few months ago resulting in widespread outrage. The activists, who began their demonstration at around 10 a.m. on Thursday, thwarted the road widening works until 3 p.m., and demanded an assurance from the authorities that tree planting would be taken up on the roadside, apart from the establishment of a park comprising 400 trees. Following the opposition, Mysore City Corporation (MCC) officials shared relevant documents and gave a written assurance to the activists that tree replanting on the road would be taken up within six months, according to Kamal Gopinath, president, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Mysuru. There were activists from nine organisations, including Mr. Gopinath, state president and general secretary of 'Parisarakkagi Naavu' A.T. Ramaswamy and Parashurame Gowda respectively, members of 'Parisara Balaga', Clean Mysore Foundation, and Dalit Panthers Association, among others. The activists also demanded that traffic surveys and analyses, if undertaken for the widening and development of the road, be released. A PUCL release said the authorities have given a written assurance stating that the widening works would be completed within six months, and as many as 150 saplings will be planted on the right and left pathways, apart from the middle meridian of the new road. The widening work is being undertaken at a cost of ₹20 crores, and a sum of ₹50 lakhs has already been released. The MCC team also released the Traffic Survey and Analysis report, which was prepared before the trees were cut down in April. Senior forest department officials who apprised themselves of the demands of the activists, said that land for the proposed tree park was to be identified and provided by the MCC, though the latter claimed that it was the responsibility of the forest department. The activists said they would vigorously pursue the demand for a tree park with the government and the forest department in the days ahead.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Ashada Shukravara: Environmental groups to be deployed to monitor devotees carrying single-use plastic atop Chamundi Hills
Volunteers from environmental groups would be deployed at the foot of Chamundi Hills on Friday during the Ashada Shukravara to dissuade devotees from carrying single-use plastic atop the hills. Representatives from Parisara Ulivigati Kriya Samithi, or Environment Protection Action, convened a press conference in Mysuru on Wednesday and said about 150 volunteers will be present at the foothills on Friday to monitor, prevent and assist the devotees so that single-use plastics are not taken uphill. The environmentalists, who appealed to the devotees to use only organic pooja material, also urged the Chamundeshwari Temple Area Development Authority to ensure that offerings such as baagina, badami milk and dry fruits are distributed without using the single-use plastic. 'We request the concerned departments to take strict measures to ensure that no vendors in Chamundi Hills, from the foothills to the hilltop, use any single-use plastic,' said Mr. Parashurame Gowda, a member of the Samithi. The Samithi has also appealed to the devotees visiting Chamundi Hills to avoid carrying pooja items, sweets, and snacks in single-use plastic containers. 'We request the devotees to bring natural turmeric and vermilion (kumkum) instead of those containing chemicals,' said the Samithi, in its statement. Meanwhile, president of PUCL, Mysuru, Kamal Gopinath, who is also a member of the Samithi, said the single-use plastics and other consumer wastes threatened the pristine Chamundi Hills and the authorities should strictly enforce the ban on single use plastic bags, water bottles and other such items used by tourists and devotees all around the year through sustained programmes instead of some 'peripheral and shallow' measures only during Ashada Fridays and festivals when there is a surge of devotees. He urged the authorities to make environmentally proactive norms a part of the tender process. Mr, Parashurame Gowda regretted that the declaration of Chamundi Hills as a plastic-free zone by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has remained largely on paper. Tourist Bungalow Mr. Kamal Gopinath has urged the State government to shelve its plans to construct a Tourist Bungalow atop Chamundi Hills and instead focus on the Department's core function of conservation and maintenance of the environment in this ecologically sensitive region. All the nine organisations that are part of the Samithi were unanimous in their opposition and condemnation of the proposed bungalow, he said. 'Chamundi Hills is ecologically sensitive, and no fresh constructions in any form or shape should be allowed atop the hills, which have recently recorded boulders rolling off the same and are also under constant threat owing to sustained erosion of the green belt around it', he said. Ms. Leela Shivakumar, Ms. Leela Venkatesh, Mr. Gokul of Clean Mysore Foundation, and Mr. Gantaiah of Parisara Balaga were also present.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PUCL criticizes Cauvery Aarti, says money should be spent on reducing river pollution
The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Mysuru, has criticised the State government's proposal to organise a Cauvery Aarti at an estimated cost of nearly ₹100 crore and against the recommendations of the Department of Finance. The PUCL said in a release that the traditional 'Baagina' offered to the river whenever KRS fills to the brim, and the Threethotbava rites at Talacauvery are enough religious offerings to the river. In a release, Kamal Gopinath, president of PUCL, and V. Purushotam, vice-president, said instead of the proposed Cauvery Aarti, the same amont can be spent to take concrete initiatives to reduce the pollution in the river. The river is polluted by chemicals from fertilizers flowing into the river from the coffee and other estates of Kodagu, and from agricultural and industrial pollutants as also effluents flowingin to the river all along its route to Mysuru. The amount stipulated for Cauvery Aarti can as well be spent on reducing the river pollution, said the PUCL. It said the State government should also focus on the restoration of natural rainwater flows into the river all along its route, by curbing the unabated real estate developments which are cutting off and impinging on such flows. This apart, the pollution and wasting of its tributary, Lakshmanthreetha, owing to the affluents from the tobacco industry of Hunsur and surrounding regions is a long-pending matter of concern which the State government appears to be completely unmindful about, said the PUCL. The government should also lend its focus and finances to restoring the various lakes and other water bodies in the Cauvery basin which are under threat, it added.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Trees transplanted through crowdfunding
Four fully grown trees along the Kukkarahalli lake embankment which were uprooted due to heavy rains and gale that lashed Mysuru on Wednesday night, were transplanted on Friday. It was the initiative of the Action Committee for Environmental Conservation which is an umbrella organisation of various NGOs and groups advocating the cause of environment and entailed raising funds from among its members. The four Akash Mallige trees, each aged around 15 to 25 years, were transplanted within 5 ft. of their original site. The initiative has drawn the appreciation of the general public and has come as a boost to environmental cause as it comes close on the heels of 40 trees that were felled for widening Hyder Ali Road. The Action Committee members ensured the moisture of the roots was sustained through wet gunny bags and necessary watering and stablished contact with N.K. Lokanath, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore who approved the idea if it was feasible. Kamal Gopinath, member of the Committee and Parashurame Gowda of Parisara Balaga, said while the university agreed to lend both manpower and some equipment support, the Action Committee opted to go for crowdfunding from among its member organisations and its members towards meeting the JCB, crane, fertilizer and other requirements. ''Today, we have proved that tree transplantation is possible, cost-effective and not a myth, as the many bureaucrats, real estate interests, and timber lobbyists would have it,' said Mr. Kamal Gopinath.
