Citizens shocked over tree-felling; MGP calls for inquiry Hindu April 14, 2025 Motorists travelling along the Hyder Ali Road, which connects the office of the Superintendent of Police, Mysuru district, and Nexus City Centre mall, were shocked to find the trees that lined the thoroughfare had been cut down and the branches were scattered on the road, on Sunday. For decades, the trees on either side of the road were providing shade from the scorching sun to the wayfarers. The sight of the very trees lying across the road moved many commuters. The motorists were questioning the need to widen the short stretch for which the trees were chopped down. The thoroughfare, which also connects the Karnataka Police Academy (KPA), is not known to cause any traffic snarls, save for occasions when traffic is stopped whenever VIPs visit the KPA. Much of the traffic in the eastern parts of the city, like Gayathripuram, Udayagiri, and Rajeev Nagar, proceeds towards the city through the Theobald Road towards Nazarbad from the circle near the Superintendent of Police office. Similarly, the traffic coming from Mahadevapura Road or Azeez Sait Road takes a right turn before the mall and proceeds towards the B.R. Ambedkar Statue Circle in Gandhinagar, or takes a right turn after the mall towards the Government Guest house.
“The traffic from other roads proceeding to the city skips the short stretch of Hyder Ali road on which the trees have been chopped,” said a motorist. MGP calls for inquiry Bhamy V. Shenoy, founder president of the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), called for a thorough inquiry as to what forced the authorities to issue permission for tree-felling. He said this is a case of history repeating itself, with trees being felled by the authorities without holding a public inquiry. “It is sad that no attempts were made either by the Mysuru City Corporation or the Forest Department to get the public opinion on an important issue of felling 40 trees for road widening. The MGP will hold a formal Shraddhanjali to mourn the untimely loss of 40 trees to impress upon the authorities to avoid such calamities in the future,” Dr. Shenoy said.