81 Trees Felled for College Auditorium Construction in Kalaburagi

Quick Summary

• Tree Felling Incident: 81 trees were cut down on the Government First Grade College (autonomous) premises in Kalaburagi city for constructing a proposed 1,500-capacity auditorium.
• They were removed within a few hours from a two-acre area behind the college building.
• Forest Programme Conflict: This tree cutting occurred just days after the Forest Department initiated programmes like “Hasiru patha-Karnataka” and “Hasiru Hejje Kalaburagi” aimed at planting crores of saplings to enhance green cover in Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka region.
• Project funding Details: The auditorium is being built under SCP/TSP schemes and under pradhan mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) with an estimated cost of ₹13.2 crore.
• forest officials stated that permission was sought by college authorities. Some younger trees are being relocated while older ones require axing due to logistical challenges.
• Principal Savita tiwari acknowledged dissatisfaction over cutting such a large number of trees but confirmed efforts to establish a mini garden and replant new saplings.

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