Karnataka: FSI to assess tree felling for Yettinahole

Hassan: Since, an on field inspection by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Bengaluru, earlier this month, to assess the number of trees felled in the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water project areas of Sakleshpur in Hassan failed to get them a clear picture, the ministry has now asked the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehra Dun to assist them in the tree count.

The MoEF has asked FSI officials to get them high resolution imageries on the standing trees of 2015 and 2016 in the Yettinahole project area in Sakleshpur so that they could compare these with the existing situation on the ground at the project areas.

Chief Conservator of Forests, MoEF, Arvind Kanpade told Deccan Chronicle on Sunday that he has written a letter to FSI on January 6 asking them to get high resolution imageries of the trees which stood in the area before civil works on the Yettinahole project commenced. Once, the imageries are available, they would be compared with the current situation on the ground to get a count of trees felled at the project sites.

The spot inspection by the MoEF was taken-up on the direction of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, after the petitioner K.N. Somashekar drew the attention of the Tribunal to the fact that excess trees in Sakleshpur, a biodiversity hot spot in Western Ghats, were felled to make way for the civil works carried out under Yettinahole project.