Mangalore activist Vivek M. has written to senior officials of both the central and Karnataka forest departments, demanding a public hearing before the proposed removal of at least 7,540 trees from a 39‑acre reserved forest area in the Charmadi Ghat section of NH‑73.
The letter, dated recently, points out that the Karnataka Chief Conservator of Forests and the head of the state forest department recommended a theoretical Stage 1 approval on the 10th of the month, yet the wildlife clearance process has not yet begun and no detailed mitigation plan for fauna has been submitted.
According to the sub‑forest conservator’s field‑inspection report, the suggested alignment would cut through a tiger corridor, a route regularly used by wildlife that requires safeguards to allow free movement. The report also notes that the road would pass through the Charmadi‑Kanapadi reserved forest and the NTCA‑identified Kudremukh‑Pushpagiri tiger corridor, an area characterised by natural tropical rainforest, deep valleys and streams.
The forest‑transfer proposal covers only 11.2 km, stretching from Charmadi village in South Karnataka to the boundary of Chikkamagaluru district. However, the activist warns that future widening works toward Mudigere may be treated as separate packages, potentially increasing forest use and leading to additional tree loss.
Such a phased approach could enable project promoters to advance the widening in stages rather than as a single corridor, a prospect that has raised concerns among local environmental groups.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK