Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and Tree Officer Clifford Lobo revealed plans for a large-scale tree planting effort in Mangaluru over the coming two to four years. Speaking during a public meeting about the proposal to cut down 99 trees for building vehicle overpasses (VOP) at the Nanthoor and KPT Junctions on NH-66, Lobo emphasized the critical need to find appropriate locations for new trees. He highlighted that Mangaluru’s current green cover stands at just 6.2%, which is far below the 40% recommended for urban regions.
“Our target is to boost the green cover by at least 2%,” Lobo mentioned, urging residents to help identify suitable planting sites. He also pledged to protect as many existing trees as possible, including considering moving them to new locations. “I will personally ensure that trees are preserved wherever feasible. Trees with bird nests will remain untouched until the end of the nesting period,” he stated.
At the hearing, environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche cautioned against adopting Singapore’s model of urban development, pointing out that while Singapore has 44% green cover, Mangaluru has only 6.2%. He stressed the need for urban development that retains green areas. Suma Nayak agreed, arguing that trees should not be felled when birds are nesting.
NHAI site engineer Naveen clarified that the project would feature an 8.5-meter-wide service road with drainage on both sides, extending to Nanthoor Junction, with a total width of 45 meters. He assured that the project is expected to be completed within two years and that all necessary technical studies have been conducted to avoid the delays experienced with the Pumpwell flyover.
Read More: