Mangalore: ‘Love Environment with Development’ - Citizens Support MCC Plan
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Sep 11: A group of citizens took out a march from Kankanady to Nandigudda Circle on Friday September 11 with the slogan ‘Love Environment with Development’ in support of the Mangalore City Corporation’s (MCC) plan to widen and concrete the road and handed over a memorandum to mayor Shankar Bhat who joined them.
The march started from Fr Muller Hospital and ended near Nandigudda Circle. The marchers demanded that the road work should continue as development was essential along with the need to save trees. The march was led by Yathiraj Shetty, businessman, and one of the directors of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) handed over the memorandum to the mayor.
Bhat joined the march and said that the city corporation is concerned about saving trees and the environment. “But development is the need of the hour as the city is growing in all ways. So, road is taken as a basic necessity for development”, he said adding that the work will continue.
The memorandum demanded that the widening and concrete work should be completed immediately after cutting the trees. It also suggested that the MCC plant trees somewhere else to compensate.
Kiran Shetty, one of the businessmen, said that road development is important. “The congested road causes so many problems whereas a widened road is a sign of development. Environmental knowledge is a must with development and we support the plan of the MCC”, he said.
Residents of Valencia and Marnamikatta area Vivian, Praveen, Melvin D’Souza, and others were present at the march.
It can be recalled that another group had opposed the felling of trees in the name of development and opposed the road plan which would bring down 43 trees on both sides of this road.
City Mayor Irked by Self-styled Environmentalists - Warns of Police Cases
“We will file police cases against the members of some organizations, if they indulge in damaging or destroying the property of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), in the guise of holding protest against the felling of roadside trees,” warned Mayor Shankar Bhat here at a press meet held here on Thursday September 10.
“Some of the organizations and a section of the media are involved with mud-slinging at the Mangalore City Corporation and blowing things out of proportions, in the matter of cutting down the trees standing on the Kankanady -Morgansgate Road, which is planned to be concreted. It is not proper on the part of the concerned, to take the law in to their hands. Hence, we will lodge cases against the guilty,” he said.
Bhat explained that the road is planned to be widened to seven meters on both sides. Cutting down of trees is not involved with the widening of this road. So, no one need to be worried about the trees till this project is completed. “I cannot foretell what will happen in the future,” he added.
The protestors had removed the median markings on the road, that had been put for concreting purposes, while demanding for the preparation of a new plan to save trees. The mayor said that this act tantamount to taking law into their hands and damaging the MCC property.
Turning his ire the forest department too, Bhat said that the department officials have issued a statement to the media that 206 trees had been cut during this year. But there is no way of saving a tree if it is located on the path of the road taken up for widening. MCC has given eight lac rupees to the forest department to plant trees at the ratio of five saplings per each tree so felled. The amount also includes the maintenance of the saplings, he stated, adding, “we will seek a report from the forest department on this issue’.
Deputy mayor Rajani Dugganna and commissioner Vijayaprakash were also present at the press meet.