Environmentalists seek action against culprits behind felling of trees on banks of Kapila river

Expressing shock over the illegal felling of 46 fully grown trees on the banks of the Kapila river in Hejjige village in Nanjangud taluk near here, environmentalists belonging to Parisarakkagi Naavu have urged the government to immediately take action against the culprits responsible for the “grave assault on environment”.

The Forest Department has already registered a case against the illegal felling of trees under the Karnataka Forest Act 1963 and seized two chainsaw woodcutting machines and pieces of wood belonging to different species of trees found at the site on March 7.

The accused has been identified as Ayaz Ahmed, a resident of Nagarle village, who is absconding. K. Paramesh, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Mysuru, has assured the environmentalists, who met him on Friday (March 13), that he had inspected the spot and an investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, Mr. Parashurame Gowda of Parisarakkagi Naavu, who took up the issue of illegal felling of trees on the banks of the river in broad daylight last week with the Forest Department officials on March 13, said cutting down 46 trees, chopping them into pieces, loading them onto vehicles and transporting them would require considerable time.

“Hence, it is impossible for a single individual to commit such an act. It appears prima facie that several persons were involved and that the crime may have been carried out with the cooperation of officials from the Forest Department. I conveyed this concern to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF),” he said.

The DCF has promised to conduct an investigation in the matter from all angles.

Mr. Gowda said the members of Parisarakkagi Naavu, who visited the spot on March 10, said they were shocked to see such huge trees cut down. “Among the 46 trees were several excellent species such as Jamun (Nerale), Banyan, and holemathi — massive trees that were hundreds of years old. Seeing them brutally felled appeared to be evidence of the collapse of the administrative system in the district,” he lamented.

Pointing out that the effects of global warming and climate change are severely affecting all living beings, including humans, he said every single tree is precious today. 

“People in the district are already suffering due to intense heat. The Forest Department, Revenue Department, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, and the overall district administration have failed in their duty to protect trees on government land. The illegal felling of 46 massive trees is a grave assault on the environment. It is extremely unfortunate that such incidents are occurring in the home district of the Chief Minister,” Mr. Gowda stated.

He urged Mysuru district in-charge Minister H.C. Mahadevappa to treat the case seriously, identify the culprits and take immediate action. “If there is any delay in identifying the culprits, our organisation, along with farmers’ organisations and other like-minded groups, will launch a large-scale protest,” he warned.