Karnataka assembly speaker: Break fence and chop trees to reclaim lakes

BELAGAVI: KR Ramesh Kumar, speaker of the legislative assembly, on Thursday raised when he urged common people to “break the law” and uproot mesquite and eucalyptus trees to save water bodies from being destroyed in the state.

Controversial diktat delivered by Kumar when congress legislator Devanand F Chavan asked minor irrigation department minister CS Puttaraju a question for protecting water bodies in the state.

Kumar said, If someone gets pricked he will die with pain. These trees destroy water bodies. Endorsing the speaker’s suggestion, BJP’s JC Madhuswamy said brick manufacturing units and local farmers are ready to uproot the trees and clear silt from the lakes.

Madhuswamy said, “When they go to clear lake beds, revenue department officials and police stop them and file cases against them. Give farmers a free hand and they will clear the lakes for you”.

Kumar added, “During my tenure, I tried to clear these trees which are a menace. The forest department, on pretext of protecting the environment, created obstacles. If there is any department in this administrative setup that does disservice to the common man, it is the forest department”.

Pottaraju replied and said that, he will take up issue on priority and together with the chief minister and the Lake Development Authority, and bulldoze the trees.

Kumar was dissatisfied and said, “Sitting in this chair, bound by the Constitution, I should not be saying this, but it is best if the common man breaks through barricades around lakes, chop trees down and reclaim lakes”.

K R Ramesh Kumar, speaker said, “ I tried to clear these trees which are a menace, but the forest department created obstacles. If there is any department that does disservice to the common man, it is the forest department.