The retired forest officers association, notably its members – Mr. M B Srinivas and Mr B G Mugadur - have come up with a sensible suggestion to make the Trees Act really grow trees for us. Retired forest officers S & M suggest that architects and builders factor in provisions of the Trees Act in their building plans.
- That planting tress should be a prerequisite for plan approval by the municipal corporation
- That authorities should verify Trees Act compliance before approval of building completion report.
Under Trees Act a 60x40 ft. house site should have two trees planted on it. A 50x80 ft. site would have four trees. A one-hectare plot should support at least 40 trees. Every tree felled must be replaced with two saplings.
Even as they mobilize public opinion to persuade/pressure authorities to incorporate tree laws in the building code, MGP and other concerned citizen groups could educate residents associations to have trees vigilance panels in place at every locality.
Planting of trees was one of the projects taken on a war footing soon after MGP was founded. We had a visionary and dynamic forest officer like Dr. Kushalappa at that time. During sevral vanmohotsva, MGP along with the forest department planted tress wherever we found public vacant land like around Lalit Mahal palace, TB sanitoriim, in front of the railway colony etc. We also went to Hebbal Industrial araes and planted tress in vacant lot where we started a smrithi van which today has grown into mini forest (perhaps one of the few success stories of MGP). We went around schools and planted tress in their compound. We also brought to the attention tree act. Thus this Mysore galata parisaht for few had been involved in tree planting. But such a drive can be taken up year after year when new members come. Without new and active members old can keep MGP in holding pattern at best. Those who are taking a pot short from the side lines should now and get involved.
Thus this Mysore galata parisaht for few had been involved in tree planting. But such a drive can be taken up year after year when new members come. Without new and active members old can keep MGP in holding pattern at best. Those who are taking a pot short from the side lines should now and get involved.
Dr Shenoy's observation is instructive, in part; and, delightfully insinuative. Which makes such interaction worth the read. MGP has evidently done some good work, but this was presumably before some people started calling it 'galata' parishat. But then we all know, don't we, that MGP has at its helm the likes of Dr Shenoy who are too resilient to be touched by name-callers.
To bring the topic back to focus, we are talking trees here; more particularly, planting them on our house sites, not around Lalith Mahal Palace. We are talking building code; and about persuading MCC to adopt Mr Srinivas' suggestion. I mentioned MGP because, we must admit, it is the most known NGO in town. We can't speak of Mysore without mentioning MGP, can we.
I think its a great idea to turn and keep Mysore green.However,it does not appear to be a good idea to have tree planting linked with approval of building plans by the corporation.Do we believe it will work ? To my mind it will become a source of money making for some.Moreover it may not be practical in smaller sites,like 30X40.Besides,growing trees could damage the foundations of compound walls & buildings,unless the right varity of green cover is selected.
Wont it be better to have a % of land marked for tree covers while planning new developments in the city.Instead of planting trees on roadsides and loosing them to grazzzzing cows, plots of 150X150 could be turned green with a right mix of trees.Going a step further, walking ,cycling, jogging tracks with benches to sit and vehicle parking could be planned.This will encourage the local community to use the facility to build and enjoy better health.A nominal charge could be considered for upkeep of such community assets.Tree covers could also be planned and created to hide open drains and garbage dumps in the city.I strongly believe that trees can add a lot of value besides giving a green and prosperous feel Mysore.
To quicken the process,tree transplantation possibilities also could be explored.
I do agree with Mr.GVK and others that planting trees as per the act should be followed not only by the apartment/Comm complex builders but even all the people who build houses be it on a 30'X30' or more dimenssions.As a builder myself, I will start doing it fron hensforth.
Please if the association could help in evangelizing to the ordinary public about how and where can a citizen plant trees when they dont own the land. For example MGP said about planting trees around Lalitha Mahal and TB Sanitorium. What should one do if they want to plant a tree by the side of the road, in fromt of one's house?
A sitting by the side pot shot artist's note: We did tree planting in large house compounds in Mysore and gave the option to the house resdients about the type of tree they wanted, in conjunction with the forest dept, 19 years ago. We even took undertakings from the residents that they would look after the trees once they were planted in their properties. Some of us are now abroad, some research doctors of wildlife even now, some working as the driving force at the Kokkare Bellur crane sanctuary and so on. Our group was called APES (Animal protection and Emancipation Society). We never went around planting trees around vague places such as Lalith Mahal and such because these can not be maintained and the sapplings would have been cow fodder for passing cattle. There were unorganized groups doing various other good work for the city and residents and never got the recognition or headlines that MGP and ACICM get almost on a daily basis. I have been in waist deep muck water when Kukkarahalli Lake was completely covered with water hyacinth and was the only "civilian" among NSS volunteers when the first save kukkarahalli campaign got underway in the early 80's. I never heard of MGP then and I never heard of some of the retired persons who are there now, they may have been in service at that time. However, kudos for MGP for whatever they are doing, a pat on their back. A word of caution though, don't get complacent and think that every one are sitting on the sidelines and taking pot shots just because they are not organized under MGP or ACICM or anyone else.
Regarding Ms. Malathi's question about planting trees on the road side in front of ones house. I hope Dr. Shenoy knows about this issue better and can post a reply. My neighbours here put up honge trees by themselves outside their compound (no commercial reason-they just like trees and so do we) and they did not seek anyone's permission. The MCC would object to people deleoping "mini gardens" on the footpath areas outside their walls. There seems to be a section in the MCC for this and trees can be arranged from the forest dept. If no one comes up with a reply shortly, I will make efforts to find out and post the info on this topic.
One more from another from the side line but not taking a pot shot (I dont shoot let alone at pots): I have a house in Chamarajapuram, which is approx. 100x80. We have 3 coconut trees, a mango tree, a jackfruit tree, 3 guava trees, foliage plants in front and lots of other smaller plants in that small plot (unfortunately I now live in the concrete jungle called Bangalore). The only criteria to plant a sapling in front of a house is that there should be no electric cables overhead. If not the Electricity Board will never allow the tree to grow (as experienced by a friend of mine near Kamakshi Hospital - the Champak tree is never allowed to grow more than 10 feet in height and so far has never been in full bloom). We did take the planting of trees seriously and so far have planted saplings in front our house thrice. The Forest Dept also provided the enclosure for protecting the sapling from grazing cattle. We were religiously watering the sapling until one morning we found that some one had stolen the protective enclosure and some passing cattle had already stripped the sapling of all foliage.
Just planting trees will not help until we do it with the intention of just helping the environment rather than with the added intention of gaining publicity by proclaiming the quantity of area covered under the project.
I do agree the trees should be planted as per the tree act. The MCC should not approve the plan if there are no spaces to plant trees. If the trees already exist in the site and are felled during construction, new saplings have to be planted after the constuction of the house. Meaning, spaces should be provided beforehand for planting the new saplings in the site.
Planting trees as per the Act is good and can only be followed when new construction takes place. May be if sonme enterprising architect can suggest the location for palnting giving few possible type palns it will be good. Also the type of tree should be specified giving alternative locations. The other point to be taken is that unlike earlier times almost every house has sump and they vary in size and any tree to be planted has to be of such type that its roots do not affect the sump. I remember Mr. Yellappa Reddy, who was Secretary Horticulture govt of Karnataka who was passionate in safeguarding greenery mentioning about planting trees with medicinal values and breeze wafting through it will serve as cure to many ills like asthma etc. So the location from the point of predominant wind direstiion will also matter. So if the intention of the Act is followed it will have very benficial effect. Therefore, it is necessary to have a mechanism in the forest department so that people needing advice for planting threes can consult them on the issues mentioned above.
I am very to see the reactions of people on planting trees in Mysore city.There is no clear definition in the act, what is a tree. even a small honge tree below electric line is a tree by definition.we can on our own plant two trees in front of our house and maintain. It is called peoples participation in greening Musore city. i have planted a jack and neem tree in fron of my house -666, III cross I block RK nagara and are big trees giving shade for parking and medicinal value from neem tree. inside my compound 40x 60, I have 4 avacado, i nelli and one pomagranate, plus two curry leaf tree(small ones). MGP has objected to fencing in front of houses to raise gardens blocking public footpath.seedlings will be provided by forest department-contact 2483853 or 2484606 or just buy from bhudevi nursery for a small price. The government order issued should be respected to plant trees in house sites and the best way to implement and monitor this is to incorporate in the building plan before approval. anyway let us understand the importance of trees or greenary in cities as carbon sinks and plant them through people themselves instead of waiting for corporation or forest dept. to plant it .
