81 trees axed for constructing college auditorium in Kalaburagi

As many as 81 trees were felled on the Government First Grade College (autonomous) premises for the construction of a proposed auditorium building in Kalaburagi city on Monday.

These trees were located in the two-acre area behind the college building and were razed within a few hours.

This comes just 10 days after the Forest Department had launched “Hasiru Patha-Karnataka” and “Hasiru Hejje Kalaburagi” programme in Kalaburagi city, with an aim to plant three crore saplings across the State in a year and to plant 28 lakh saplings in Kalyana Karnataka region for increasing the forest and green cover patch.

Sachin Avati, assistant manager at RITES Ltd., said that the land has been earmarked for constructing a 1,500-capacity auditorium under the SCP/TSP scheme and under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) at an estimated cost of ₹13.2 crore.

The trees that were felled on the Government First Grade College (autonomous) in Kalaburagi city on Monday.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Forest officials T.N. Monappa and Ramesh told The Hindu that college authorities have sought permission for cutting the trees for the auditorium. Initially, the department had suggested to the college authorities to identify alternative land for the project. “Of the 81 trees marked, we are trying to relocate those that have been there for two to three years, while the bigger trees older than 10 years have to be axed as they require specialised equipment for relocation,” Mr. Monappa said.

Principal Savita Tiwari said that the removal of trees was an unavoidable aspect for the construction of the auditorium. However, expressing dissatisfaction with the decision of cutting down trees on such a large area, Dr. Tiwari said that a mini garden has been established in the college and more trees will be planted in the coming days.