So many lovely, well-grown trees are felled here in Mysore. The citizens of Mysore are watching helplessly as if nothing is happening. Except for a small group which is making a noise. But this is happening after the kill. The Forest Dept. turns a Nelson's eye. The traffic police say that the trees come in the way! [But they allow chat-vendors to do their business on roads, footpaths...]. A full grown tree is known to sell for a good sum (for its wood, usually for firewood) that is obviously shared between the "concerned" parties. This is what the "Authorities" are "giving" to the Citizens of Mysore.... plenty of sunlight and warmth, by removing the trees!!
I visited Nagpur in 2001. What I saw quite impressed me. Beautifully sloped road [sloped in such a way that rainwater does not stagnate], high mast lighting, beautifully paved footpath and the drainage below it. Trees were as they were, neatly painted in white to enable night-visibility of the object, even when it is just outside the footpath on the road. What we do here is just the opposite!! Most trees are preserved this way. Chopping a tree it seems requires permission from the authority and they grant it only it found to be in the way of movement. When I inquired about it, I was told that the authorities are very strict. Can't such a thing happen here? The Netas would do well to visit Nagpur instead of SingaPUR.
It is a very sorry state of affair. To re-grow a tree is a daunting herculean task. The Kannada proverb "kumbaranigondu varusha, donnegondu nimisha" is more prudent at this juncture.Days are not far for carrying oxygen cylinders on our back like a mountain climber due to everyday augmenting pollution. Whom to blame? When we analyze and debate , the bottomline is found to be population explosion which is the root cause for all ongoing evil. BEKKIGE GANTE KATTUVAVARU YARU?? Man is nailing his own coffin.What is required is a radical and revolutionary change and not the "hasiru kranti"...."mara belesi" slogans which would happen in peacemeal fashion now and then.
We see little unconspiciuous boards by the forest dept. by the roadsides here and there. But who has read them? Who has to read them? Hasiru Kraanti is for the tree cutters that are making merry from the timber! Even a few thousands or hundreds are sufficient for these wretched ones as they have not grown them, nor enjoying th shade - the share comes from no investment. This attitude is killing all the greenery.
