Save as many tree types as possible in Mysore University campus

To: The Hon'ble Supreme Court, President of India, PM, NAC, Guv, CM, Chief Secretary, Secy FEE, KFD, PCCF, APCCF, CCF, CF, DCF, ACF, UGC, UoM, Secy UD, MoUD, DC, MCC, MUDA

Created on Monday, May 02, 2011 and last updated on Thursday, May 03, 2011 @ 05:40 hrs Indian Standard Time (IST)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/biodiversity/ 
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/save-trees-in-university-of-mysore-campus/ 

Greens oppose felling of trees at University of Mysore / UoM / Manasagangotri / Manasagangothri / Gangotri / Gangothri campus Deccan Herald Monday, April 23, 2011

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/155895/greens-oppose-felling-trees-gangotri.html


Greens' discussions with the officials of University of Mysore (UOM) regarding felling of trees at the Manasagangotri / Manasagangothri / Gangotri / Gangothri campus in Mysore on Friday, April 22, 2011 - Deccan Herald Photo

Various organisations opposed the proposed axing of 160 trees on the Manasagangotri / Manasagangothri campus in the Mysore city. The University of Mysore is planning to construct post graduate hostel for women and biodiversity Centre on that land.

Five out of 160 trees of were cut in the morning (Friday, April 22, 2011).

The university wants to cut well-grown trees on 23 acres of land.

No information

The Chairman of Tree Authority and Mayor Sandesh Swamy claimed innocence,saying he did not have any prior information about cutting of trees.

"We will not allow any tree to be cut in the varsity premises further. The UoM should drop the idea of axing the trees in the interest of protection of environment failing which an agitation would be launched. The varsity has kept the citizens in dark without seeking their opinion", he added.

Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of UoM (University of Mysore), Mohan said the varsity had to cut trees to construct PG hostel for women and to establish Biodiversity Centre.

Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) stays felling of trees in University of Mysore or UoM Deccan Herald Tuesday, April 26, 2011

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/156602/forest-dept-stays-felling-trees.html 

The opposition of some citizen's fora against the felling of 165 trees in the Manasagangothri campus received a shot in the arm on Monday, April 25, 2011 when forest officials disclosed that the department has ordered a stay on the removal of the trees till further orders.

Some greens had staged a protest in front of the Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram, in Mysore on Monday, April 25, 2011 demanding withdrawal of the permission to the University to fell the trees in the campus.

They urged that the forest department to conduct a public hearing before granting permission to destroy the large tract of green cover in the Mysore city.

"The permission is/was given in a hasty manner. It violates the Tree Protection Act 1976. Shockingly, the university has fixed Rs 1.60 lakh to dispose off 164 trees," the protesters said and added that the green cover spread across two acres cannot be restored back in one's lifetime paying any amount.

They ridiculed the university authorities for choosing a place with huge green cover for constructing the women's hostel and a building for the biodiversity and bioprospecting project. Instead, the UoM can plan the building in an area with less green cover within the campus.

Earlier, the activists held a meeting with the forest officials and appealed them to withdraw the permission to UoM to fell the trees.

Felling of trees: Panel to visit University of Mysore or UoM tomorrow Deccan Herald Sunday, April 30, 2011

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/157973/felling-trees-panel-visit-uom.html 

Public hearing convened at Crawford Hall to seek opinion

In a bid to retain the maximum possible number of trees on the Manasagangotri campus and implement the women's hostel building and building for the biodiversity project, the University of Mysore (UoM) and forest department constituted a 15-member expert and citizens committee on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

At a public hearing convened at the Crawford hall to seek the opinion of the public members and experts on felling of more than 164 trees, the meeting decided to form a committee.

The committee members would visit the university campus on Monday, May 2, 2011 and assess how the Varsity can go ahead with the Rs.100 crore project work by axing minimum number of trees.

The committee comprises Maj Gen (Retd) S G Vombatkere, K Manu and representatives of University of Mysore (UoM) and the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD).

The committee has sought the university the site plan for the construction of the buildings.

The panel members would visit the University of Mysore (UoM) campus on Monday, May 2, 2011 and make recommendations on going ahead with the project by axing minimum number of trees.

It may be mentioned here that there was a public outcry when the university authorities began felling of trees on Friday, April 22, 2011.

Though, the forest department had allowed the felling, it revoked its decision on Monday, April 25, 2011 following protest by citizens.

Tree felling: University of Mysore or UoM, greens agree to disagree The Times of India  City - Mysore Monday, May 02, 2011

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tree-felling-UoM-greens-agree-to-disagree/articleshow/8136998.cms

Even after a three-hour meeting, University of Mysore (UoM) authorities and environmentalists failed to reach an understanding on felling of trees to build a bio-diversity research park and women's hostel. The varsity has proposed to build them under the UGC's special grant of Rs 100 crore.

The environmentalists' contention is that the trees are old and precious and the varsity cannot take an unilateral decision without seeking permission from Tree Court.

However, University of Mysore or UoM registrar (evaluation) B Ramu said the varsity is duty-bound to construct the building under the special grant and it cannot wait further. Six months after initiating the project, the varsity hasn't started the construction work. "We don't want the funds to lapse," he said, urging environmentalists to allow the construction work. Many trees in the area are acacia.

Arguing their case, the environmentalists said the city authorities have felled 8,000-10,000 trees in the past few years and the varsity must stop indulging in such anti-environment acts. The Mysore City Corporation or MCC, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation / Company Limited CESC, police and Mysore Urban Development Authority MUDA are responsible for such largescale tree felling, they alleged, adding that they will not allow the University of Mysore or UoM to take up the construction work till the Tree Court clears the project.

Ramu countered the claims of environmentalists saying that 65% of University of Mysore (UoM) premises is occupied by trees and there is no need to worry about University of Mysore's or UoM's ecology and environment. Environmentalists said the varsity should not take any step till they summon a meeting of the forest department officials and forest minister. Before doing this, if there is any felling of trees on the site, University of Mysore or UoM will be held responsible, said the environmentalists. The meeting was ended abruptly.

Karnataka - Mysore

Varsity's proposal to fell 164 trees draws criticism The Hindu Monday, May 02, 2011

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/02/stories/2011050253140300.htm

It plans to construct two buildings

'Some trees have already been cut down'

The proposal of the University of Mysore to fell more than 164 trees for the construction of a ladies hostel and a bio-diversity research centre on the Manasagangotri campus has come under criticism.

Environmentalists and activists took strong objection to the proposal during a public meeting held at the Crawford Hall here on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

The greens charged that proper procedure had not been followed in obtaining permission to fell the trees and alleged that a few decade-old trees had already been felled along with some young trees.

They argued that the location of the two proposed buildings was in a verdant mini forest.

"There were strong objections to the generalised view expressed by the university authorities that due to objections by environmentalists Mysore is losing many projects," said activist Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, who took part in the public meeting, in a statement here.

After deliberations, it was decided by both parties - greens and the university authorities - to constitute a 15-member committee headed by the former president of Mysore Grahakara Parishat Major General S.G. Vombatkere (Retd.) to examine the feasibility of minimising the number of trees to be pruned or felled.

The committee later visited the university campus, made an on-the-spot study of the location, observed that the University of Mysore or UoM had, in fact, cut a few decade-old trees and some young trees.

The committee requested the University of Mysore UoM to make available the plan after superimposing the existing trees on the plan in order to further examine how it was possible to suggest ways to save the trees on the campus.

They requested all authorities concerned to take up development work "around the trees" and "not by felling them". They further proposed that the issue of felling 293 trees for the Raja Marga project be examined as well and proposed approaching the MCC for a hearing.

Row over varsity's new centre: panel to visit University of Mysore or UoM campus Times of India Tuesday, May 03, 2011

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Row-over-varsitys-new-centre-panel-to-visit-campus/articleshow/8146502.cms 

Should the University of Mysore go ahead with construction of a centre for bio-diversity by axing some trees? A panel comprising civic members and officials will inspect the PG campus where the varsity has planned to house the centre.

Though the panel was to visit the site on Monday, May 2, 2011 it was put off since the varsity has sought more time.

The varsity officials have been asked to mark the boundary for the proposed centre that will map and document biodiversity, human population, traditional knowledge and abiotic resources in the Western Ghats.

Panel member B J Vijaykumar said 62 trees are proposed to be axed for construction of the centre. The site is located opposite the KSOU or Karnataka State Open University headquarters. "After the boundary is marked, the panel will inspect the trees and decide," he told The Times of India. The panel has suggested two alternative locations within the campus, he stated. The varsity has sought two days to mark the boundary.

Greens were able to save only / just eight big trees out of a total of 164 trees that are proposed to be felled in University of Mysore / UoM / Manasagangothri / Manasagangotri Deccan Herald Thursday, May 05, 2011

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/159003/greens-save-eight-big-trees.html


A tree felled on Tuesday, April 22, 2011 had made the greens up in arms against the University of Mysore / UoM / Manasagangothri / Manasagangotri. - Deccan Herald Photo

Greens were able to save only / just eight big trees out of a total of 164 trees that are proposed to be felled / axed / cut in the University of Mysore or UoM / Manasagangothri / Manasagangotri which was in contrary / contrast to their publicly stated / declared mission / objective of saving as many (maximum number of) trees as possible.

Unfortunately, greens themselves became facilitators / interlocutors / mediators in the most likely signing of death warrants of about 158 trees by the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) to construct a ladies hostel building and a building for the biodiversity and bioprospecting project.

The eight big trees comprise mango, jackfruit and jamun trees. These trees are in the area where the varsity has proposed to construct a building for the work on biodiversity project, sanctioned under the Rs.100 crore grant for the centre of excellence by the central government.

134 small acacia trees in the space where the university proposes to build a hostel building will be felled / axed / cut.

Greens saved only / just about eight trees and themselves allowed felling of 30 trees in another building adjacent to the proposed hostel building land.

Therefore, the greens' publicly declared mission / objective of saving as many trees as possible out of a total of 164 trees was unfortunately a total / miserable failure / flop especially (or more so) because only eight out of 30 non-Acacia trees could be saved. It was quite an anti-climax to the whole issue / controversy of the proposed tree felling.

Conclusion:

Absolutely wrong to demonise / demonize Peltophorum and Peepal trees as weeds

It is very unfortunate that a seemingly very senior learned Retired Botany Professor of University of Mysore (UoM) who participated in the meeting has called / branded / labelled both Peltophorum (Yellow Flower / Flowering / Flowered Tree) and Ficus religiosa / Peepul / Peepal (Hindi) / Arali Mara (Kannada) as useless and went to the extent of classifying / categorising / categorizing / demonising / demonizing them as weeds as according to the Retired Professor, Peltophorum obstructs the power transmission lines / electricity wires / cables and Ficus religiosa / Peepul / Peepal (Hindi) / Arali Mara roots damage houses.

Flawed, unscientific, prejudiced / biased and non-Botanical logic

If we were to extend the same flawed, unscientific and non-Botanical logic, every avenue / roadside tree could / would be considered / assumed / presumed / imagined as a weed in some form / way or the other by the state owned or privately owned agencies / companies like telephone, water supply, sewerage / drainage / underground drainage etc. and also by each and every Indian citizen in each and every Indian village / town / city. Therefore, not a single tree will be left / spared in any Indian village / town / city as a consequence of extending this flawed logic.

01) An appeal to save / restore greenery / lungs / trees, Chamundi Hills, lakes, parks and lung/open spaces of Mysore City. 

http://www.petitiononline.com/greenmys/ 

Created on Sunday, May 21, 2006 and Updated on Saturday, July 05, 2008

02) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-mysore-trees/ 

03) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-amendment-to-preservation-of-trees-act/ 

Created on Thursday, May 20, 2010 and Updated on Wednesday, August 04, 2010

04) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/dont-amend-kpta-to-fell-30-more-tree-types/ 

Created on Wednesday, August 04, 2010 and Updated on Thursday, August 05, 2010

05) Say no to Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act Amendment 

http://www.petitiononline.com/treesact/ 

Created on Thursday, May 20, 2010 and Updated on Wednesday, August 04, 2010

06) Don't amend KPTA to fell 30 more tree types - English 

http://www.petitiononline.com/acttrees/ 

07) Don't amend KPTA to fell 30 more tree types - Trilingual (In three languages English, Hindi and Kannada)

http://www.petitiononline.com/kpttrees/ 

Created on Wednesday, August 04, 2010 and Updated on Thursday, August 05, 2010

In the light of the above mentioned facts, we the petition signers / signatories request everyone concerned to retain as many diverse variety of trees as possible to construct the two buildings one of which happens to be a Biodiversity Centre.

This petition has been addressed to the Hon'ble Supreme Court, President, Prime Minister (PM), National Advisory Council (NAC), Karnataka Governor / Guv, Chief Minister (CM), Chief Secretary (CS), Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment (FEE), Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HFF), Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF), Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Conservator of Forests (CF), Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), University Grants Commission (UGC), University of Mysore (UoM), Secretary Urban Development (UD), Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).