Hassan: Environmentalist Ashok, who participated in a protest organised by the Taluk Raitha Sangha demanded that trees should not be removed from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) premises in Channarayapatna Town.
Speaking at the Town premises, he said that around 1,000 different species of saplings were planted in the APMC premises 15 years ago with the permission of the agricultural produce market. But a few years ago, except for 700 in the market, the remaining 300 trees were tendered to a private person for the construction of a fruit plant. In the same place cattle market replaced the trees, he added.
“But he has written a letter to the Forest Department seeking permission to clear 300 of them. Trees should not be cleared in this three-acre area. If it is cleared, it will be for the livestock and farmers so that the APMC and the local legislators should pay attention,” he said.
On the occasion, Taluk Raitha Sangha President C. G. Ravi said that the APMC market is in the heart of the Town in Hassan District and does not exist in any Taluk of Hassan District. The farmers who were given this space are now forced to roam in the streets without food. Today, traders are trying to earn income by giving this land to private individuals, so if the authorities concerned pay attention to it, they will launch a fierce struggle from the farmers’ union and various pro-organisations, he stressed.
