More than 30,000 trees will be axed for 65-km road between Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada

Say goodbye to the rains

Something seems dangerously off about the state government’s understanding of conservation. While most Bengalureans are still worrying about the consequences of losing 800-odd trees to a steel flyover, the government now wants to hack through the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats to build a road. And this time, at least 30,000 trees will be lost.

The government on Tuesday confirmed that this new road – connecting Byrapura in Chikkamagaluru with Shishila in Dakshina Kannada, spanning 65 km – will cut through pristine forests of the Ghats. The project is already underway.

In December last year, the state had agreed in principle to develop a road between the two districts as an alternative to the existing highways via Shiradi and Charmadi that were often chock-a-block with vehicles.

On Tuesday, in a reply to BJP’s MK Pranesh, Public Works Department minister HC Mahadevappa said the project had now begun, and currently, the survey work was going on. The entire project (two-lane road) is expected to cost about Rs56 crore.

Mahadevappa said: “Of the 65-km stretch, 13 km will wind through Dakshina Kannada district and 52 km through Chikkamagalur district. The government has already entrusted Bengaluru-based Preethi CAD Consulting Engineers with the responsibility of preparing the detailed project report (DPR). The firm is in the process of conducting a survey in the area, and work is under progress and only after obtaining the DPR will we know the periodicity of the project.”