Nearly 2000 trees, many of them more than 100 years old were chopped down for widening the road connecting Dharwad and Hubbali. As per the Environmental Clearance given by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India, about 4000 Trees are to be planted along the new widened highway. However, the project proponent, DULT / KRDCL and the Forest Department are pointing fingers at each other and haven’t yet made the plan for the avenue plantation.

The trees that were cut included banyan, mango, neem, pipal and tamarind, many of them more than 100 years old, were destroyed for widening the road to 4-lanes. The girth (diameter) of many of the trees KILLED was as big as 5 metres and has affected the ecology of the region adversely.

Neither DULT / KRDCL nor the Forest Department have any plan for the Avenue plantation along the highway, although the project is due for completion by Apr. 2013.

We appeal to Shri Indu B. Srivastava (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Karnataka) and Ms. Manjula (Commissioner, DULT) and concerned to take immediate steps to implement the Avenue Plantation (as per the Environmental Clearance).

For more information visit - http://rastr.in/M4KTrees.html or call me at 9916135836