At a time when the world is waking up to the importance of planting and preserving trees and the green cover, almost a hundred ‘dangerous’ trees were chopped off a day before Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy’s visit to Kodagu. As per reports, the district commissioner issued an order to the forest department to cut off the trees on the path marked for the CM’s visit, along Talacauvery-Bhagamandala stretch. As per the order, the trees which posed a threat of falling down were to be cut off.
Local residents, activists and forest department isn’t too happy with the outcome. The forest department has reportedly stated that they were not consulted and no survey was undertaken to identify ‘dangerous’ trees before chopping off a hundred trees. Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu, is also referred to as Scotland of India since the river Cauvery originates here. The officials are upset that this cutting of trees only added to the depleting green belt which has been adversely affected already owing to tourism and roads construction.
Taking to Twitter, the BJP also condemned the axing of trees, claiming is this how the Chief Minister responding to those who question him.
CM Sri. @hd_kumaraswamy doesn’t allocate any funds to Kodagu in his budget, His govt doesn’t help victims of rain in Kodagu & now more than 100 trees axed in Kodagu ahead of his visit. Is this a gift from ‘Mannina Maga’ to people of Kodagu for questioning his failure? pic.twitter.com/gb7bvNchTe
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 18, 2018
