NH-169 widening: Environmentalists confident of saving at least 400 trees from felling

Environmentalists on Tuesday exuded confidence that at least 400 trees out of the 2,616 trees that were proposed to be felled to facilitate the four-laning of NH-169 from Bikarnakatte to Mijar could be saved.

The Forest Department, along with the National Highway Authority of India officials and environmentalists, conducted a survey on the stretch on Monday.

The environmentalists and some local people opposed the felling of trees, while a few, including corporators, demanded that as many trees be saved as possible before taking up the work.

Corporator Shakeela Kava said that people have been inconvenienced by the narrow road for the last 30 years and there is a need to save nature while carrying out development works.