DC orders probe into axing of 40 trees in Mysuru, constitutes three-member committee

Environmentalists and concerned residents have particularly questioned the necessity of the road-widening project, and whether the decision to cut down 40 trees was justified.

In the wake of widespread public anger over the felling of 40 fully grown trees on Hyder Ali Road, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident.

An official order issued by Mr. Reddy on April 21 states that the probe committee will be chaired by the Commissioner of the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Hunsur, will serve as a member, while the Executive Engineer of the District Urban Development and Planning Department has been appointed as the committee’s secretary.

The tree felling, carried out near the office of the Superintendent of Police as part of a road-widening project, has drawn strong criticism from citizens, NGOs, and environmental groups. Protests have erupted daily, with participants demanding accountability and questioning the rationale behind sacrificing green cover for urban infrastructure.

Environmentalists and concerned residents have particularly questioned the necessity of the road-widening project, and whether the decision to cut down 40 trees was justified.

The Deputy Commissioner’s order directs the committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The panel is tasked with determining whether road widening was essential, if the tree felling was technically justified, whether all required permissions and clearances were obtained, and if the action complied with applicable regulations.

The committee has been instructed to submit a detailed report within seven days, outlining its findings and recommendations.

The public response to the incident has been intense. A massive candlelight vigil was recently held at the site where the trees once stood. Hundreds of citizens participated, paying tributes to the felled trees and demanding decisive action.