The samadhi of Kudmul Ranga Rao at Babugudde in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
A majority of those, mainly leaders of Scheduled Castes, who spoke at Tuesday’s public hearing on the move to cut trees to enable Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to take up Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial Project at Babugudde, Attavara ward, in the city said that the ₹3 crore project should come up at any cost. If not cutting, the trees can be relocated, they said.
The Forest Department had organised the hearing on the application filed by the MCC. K. Harisha, tree officer and Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Mangaluru, presided over the hearing.
In his introductory remarks, Rajesh Baligar, Range Forest Officer, Mangaluru, said if the MCC’s project is to come up, 89 trees/plants of 29 varieties either will have to be cut or relocated. It is mandatory for the Forest Department, under Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, to hold public hearing if more than 50 trees were to be cut for a project.
Naresh P. Shenoy, Deputy Commissioner (Development), MCC, said the project comprises constructing a building in the “samadhi” area of the late Rao, a social reformer, and creating allied facilities. The building will have a hall with seating capacity for 100 people. A statue of Rao will be installed.
About 50 trees will have to be cut or relocated if the building alone was to be built, Mr. Shenoy said.
The integrated project will be developed as a tourist destination to know more about Rao who strived for the uplift of Scheduled Castes and other oppressed sections of society, he said.
Representing civil society, participant T. Honnaiah said trees/plants in the “samadhi” area were planted about five areas ago and it was not a forest. “Rao was more than a social reformer. His samadhi is punya bhoomi. Trees will have to be removed for taking up the project and they can be relocated,” he said.
Shubha, a college teacher, said the trees should not be cut, but relocated. “Mangaluru has only 6% green cover left. Birds and other organisms depend on trees. Think before cutting trees. If trees are retained while developing the project, the tourists can enjoy the greenery and can hail it as a project with a difference,” she said.
Green activist Jeeth said that converting the city into a concrete jungle by cutting more trees should not continue.
SC leaders object to presence of students
Many SC leaders, who took part in the public hearing on cutting trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial Project at Babugudde, objected to the presence of students of a college at the meeting.
They picked up arguments with the teachers of the college. They also questioned students whether they knew anything about Rao, the social reformer.
The leaders questioned the intention (to oppose felling of trees) of the college of sending its students in uniform to the hearing. Some of them questioned the college teachers and students of remaining mute spectators, while many trees were cut for widening the Kankanady-Valencia-Jeppu road.
The teachers bringing students to oppose the project revealed how voices of Dalits were being suppressed, they alleged. The leaders said they would not allow the public hearing to take place unless the students left. The students later left the venue.
Published – September 22, 2026 07:46 pm IST
