Mysuru: The forest department has registered an FIR against three persons for allegedly felling 36 trees near the proposed kambala venue on Mysore Development Authority (MDA) land near VTU College in Hanchya, on the outskirts of Mysuru.According to police, an official from the youth empowerment and sports department has also been booked in connection with the incident. Activist Snehamayi Krishna and five others had lodged a complaint over the tree felling. The development comes amid protests by environmental activists against the proposed kambala event during the upcoming Dasara festival. A forest department official confirmed that the FIR was registered under Sections 33(2)(V) and 33(3) of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, and Section 43 of the Karnataka Forest Rules, 1969.Environmentalist Bhanu Mohan alleged that kambala was being imposed on Mysureans in an unscientific manner. “The proposed site has not yet been officially handed over by the MDA for kambala preparations. Despite this, trees were felled illegally,” she said.“When we initially raised the issue of illegal tree felling, officials denied it. However, it was later confirmed that the trees had indeed been cut down illegally,” she added.Meanwhile, activist Ravi Bale has launched an online petition seeking the immediate cancellation of the kambala event during Dasara. In the petition, addressed to chief minister DK Shivakumar, Bale stated that nearly 400 buffaloes and about 20,000 caretakers would be mobilised from Udupi to Mysuru for the 48-hour sporting event.He further claimed that the event would consume an estimated 10 lakh litres of water and alleged that it would subject 400 animals to unnecessary stress and cruelty. According to the petition, the kambala event would not serve any meaningful purpose.
