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7,540 Trees Set for Removal in Charmadi Ghat as NH‑73 Widening Moves Ahead
✍️ mangaloretoday.com
🗓 23 Sep 2026, 10:45 AM
👁 13
The Karnataka government proposes to fell 7,540 trees in Charmadi Ghat to widen National Highway 73, prompting environmental groups to demand a detailed review.
The state’s road development authority has submitted a proposal to cut down 7,540 trees along the steep stretches of Charmadi Ghat in the Western Ghats. The felling is intended to accommodate the widening of National Highway 73, a key link between Mangalore and the interior of Karnataka.
Environmental activists have raised concerns over the ecological impact of such a large-scale removal, citing potential loss of biodiversity and increased soil erosion in the sensitive hill region. They have called for an independent scrutiny of the project’s environmental clearances and for exploring alternative alignment options.
The proposal is currently under review by the state’s forest department, which must balance infrastructure development with the preservation of the Western Ghats’ fragile ecosystem. Officials have indicated that compensatory afforestation measures will be part of the final plan, though details remain pending.
Local communities, whose livelihoods depend on the forest, have also voiced apprehension, urging authorities to consider the long‑term environmental costs before proceeding with the tree felling.
The outcome of the review will determine whether the highway widening proceeds as outlined or is modified to mitigate the environmental concerns raised.
Environmental activists have raised concerns over the ecological impact of such a large-scale removal, citing potential loss of biodiversity and increased soil erosion in the sensitive hill region. They have called for an independent scrutiny of the project’s environmental clearances and for exploring alternative alignment options.
The proposal is currently under review by the state’s forest department, which must balance infrastructure development with the preservation of the Western Ghats’ fragile ecosystem. Officials have indicated that compensatory afforestation measures will be part of the final plan, though details remain pending.
Local communities, whose livelihoods depend on the forest, have also voiced apprehension, urging authorities to consider the long‑term environmental costs before proceeding with the tree felling.
The outcome of the review will determine whether the highway widening proceeds as outlined or is modified to mitigate the environmental concerns raised.