Mangaluru : Alleging that the district administration, instead of being benevolent towards citizens, is poised to make Mangaluru a green-free city, green activists recently asked the Deputy Commissioner to justify the decision for shifting the district office complex to Padil that entails the felling of 386 trees.

They said that there are enough vacant spaces around the city if the office complex has to be relocated and the administration should choose one such place.

Holding a protest demonstration, under the banner of National Environment Care Foundation, Mangaluru, activists questioned the lack of facilities in the present district office complex at State Bank. Addressing the gathering, Shashidhar Shetty said that people in the district had seen benevolent officers like Bharat Lal Meena and Ponnuraj and alleged that the current district administration had lost all sensitivity towards the people.

He alleged that projects like Yettinahole and the district office complex proved that the government is not bothered about the public’s welfare and it is unfortunate that district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, who is also the Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, is backing the projects.

Kateel Dinesh Pai said that about 106 trees were felled in Mangaluru last year and this year, the number could cross 500. It is condemnable that the government, which should have protected the green cover, is itself indulging in deforestation, he regretted.

Attempts are also being made to cut about 60 trees to widen the Court Complex Road atop Bavutagudde, he alleged.

Advocate Suma Nayak, who has challenged the felling of trees before the National Green Tribunal, said all the activists are discharging their fundamental duties in protecting the environment.