Commotion after a section of participants object to the presence of students at the venue of public hearing conducted by the forest department on Tuesday, to facilitate the felling of more than 80 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project in Mangaluru
Commotion after a section of participants objected to the presence of students at the venue of public hearing conducted by the forest department on Tuesday, to facilitate the felling of more than 80 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project in Mangaluru Commotion after a section of participants object to the presence of students at the venue of public hearing conducted by the forest department on Tuesday, to facilitate the felling of more than 80 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project in Mangaluru Commotion after a section of participants objected to the presence of students at the venue of public hearing conducted by the forest department on Tuesday, to facilitate the felling of more than 80 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project in Mangaluru Commotion after a section of participants object to the presence of students at the venue of public hearing conducted by the forest department on Tuesday, to facilitate the felling of more than 80 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project in Mangaluru Mangaluru: A public hearing convened by the forest department to clear approximately 89 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project descended into chaos here Tuesday, marked by heated exchanges and the forced eviction of student attendees. The project, which is being spearheaded by Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), following representations by the Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial Trust, aims to restore the existing memorial, construct a 100-seater meeting hall, and erect a statue of the reformer. Addressing the gathering, Naresh P Shenoy, the MCC deputy commissioner (development), explained that while Rs 3 crore was earmarked for the memorial in the 2019-20 state budget and a broader Rs 100 crore grant was promised, delayed funding stalled execution. Range forest officer Rajesh Baligar clarified that the trees span 29 species, noting that five are large while the smaller ones could potentially be relocated.
“There are approximately 89 trees on the site, and about 50 of those directly obstruct the planned construction,” Shenoy noted. activist Kishore Attavar cautioned against turning the site into a “concrete jungle” While well-known environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche stressed the critical need to preserve and increase the city’s shrinking green cover. Tensions flared at the Babugudda venue in Attavar when a section of participants vehemently objected to the presence of students. The protesters demanded their exit, arguing that individuals lacking knowledge about the iconic social reformer should not be allowed to participate in the hearing. Kudmul Ranga Rao was a pioneering reformer who dedicated his life to fighting untouchability and securing social justice for the region’s underprivileged communities. The proposal met with stiff resistance from environmentalists and local activists. Meanwhile, former deputy mayor Rajanish Kapikad asserted that the land belonged to Brahmo Samaj.
Further complicating the dispute, participant T Honnayya claimed the plot was historically a play area, alleging that the forest department had planted unauthorised saplings there five or six years ago.
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