Compensatory afforestation for Mysuru-Kushalnagar highway to be taken up in Hunsur-Periyapatna belt

Environmental activists have argued for Compensatory Afforestation in project-affected areas while executing linear projects like highways. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM

The Forest Department has shelved its original proposal to take up compensatory afforestation for Mysuru-Kushalnagar highway project in Vijayapura, and has decided that it will be taken up in the project-affected areas.

As a result, compensatory afforestation has now been proposed in Hunsur and Periyapatna taluks through which the proposed highway cuts through and will impact the local flora and fauna.

The project entails diversion of 137.5 acres of forestland besides felling of 691 trees of which 571 trees are in the Hunsur division and 120 trees are in the Cauvery block notified forest area under the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

The National Highways Authority of India is laying a greenfield road connecting Mysuru with Kushalnagar at a cost of nearly ₹3,800 crore. What had irked the environmentalists is that the compensatory afforestation was to be taken up in Bhutanala village in Vijayapura district for trees felled and forestland diverted in Mysuru district.

Conservation activist Giridhar Kulkarni had complained to the Forest Department questioning the logic behind such a move and pointed out that forest loss affecting the microclimatic conditions in Hunsur-Periyapatna belt could not be compensated by taking up afforestation in Vijayapura district.

Besides, Hunsur-Periyapatna belt suffered from high rate of human-wildlife conflict which would only aggravate with linear projects like highway expansion or greenfield projects. Besides, there were media reports critical of taking up compensatory afforestation scheme far from the project-affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department based on satellite imageries and ground inspection noticed encumbrances in the form of permanent structures on the proposed land where compensatory afforestation was to be taken up in Vijayapura district. Hence, a revised compensatory afforestation scheme was formulated in Hunsur and Periyapatna range of the Hunsur Forest Division in Mysuru district.

Accordingly, 112 hectares or 276.76 acres of land, almost the area diverted for highway, will be covered under compensatory afforestation. The forest range which will be covered include Mallnathapura section, Basavanna Eni, Gulledahalla range forest, Doddahonnuru Kaval, Muttaguru-Doddahonnur Kaval, Yalachanahalli, etc. The total cost of afforestation along with maintenance will be around ₹8.15 lakh a hectare, according to the authorities.

This includes barbed fencing, maintenance of plantation for 10 years, casualty replacement, manuring, etc. The total land required for the project is nearly 577.41 hectares and the non-forestland is 521.78 hectare, while forestland is 55.63 hectares.

Activists say while taking up linear projects like highways, the ecological loss occurring in project-affected areas should be compensated locally. If the compensatory afforestation is taken up in all sincerity in Hunsur-Periyapatna belt, the existing human-wildlife conflict could be reduced to a large extent in the long run, they said.

Published - June 19, 2025 06:57 pm IST