Mangaluru: A public hearing convened by the forest department to clear approximately 89 trees for the proposed Kudmul Ranga Rao memorial project descended into chaos here Tuesday, marked by heated exchanges and the forced eviction of student attendees.Tensions flared at the Babugudda venue in Attavar when a section of participants vehemently objected to the presence of students. The protesters demanded their exit, arguing that individuals lacking knowledge about the iconic social reformer should not be allowed to participate in the hearing.Kudmul Ranga Rao was a pioneering reformer who dedicated his life to fighting untouchability and securing social justice for the region’s underprivileged communities.The project, which is being spearheaded by Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), following representations by the Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial Trust, aims to restore the existing memorial, construct a 100-seater meeting hall, and erect a statue of the reformer.Addressing the gathering, Naresh P Shenoy, the MCC deputy commissioner (development), explained that while Rs 3 crore was earmarked for the memorial in the 2019-20 state budget and a broader Rs 100 crore grant was promised, delayed funding stalled execution.“There are approximately 89 trees on the site, and about 50 of those directly obstruct the planned construction,” Shenoy noted.Range forest officer Rajesh Baligar clarified that the trees span 29 species, noting that five are large while the smaller ones could potentially be relocated.The proposal met with stiff resistance from environmentalists and local activists. While well-known environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche stressed the critical need to preserve and increase the city’s shrinking green cover, activist Kishore Attavar cautioned against turning the site into a “concrete jungle”.Further complicating the dispute, participant T Honnayya claimed the plot was historically a play area, alleging that the forest department had planted unauthorised saplings there five or six years ago.Meanwhile, former deputy mayor Rajanish Kapikad asserted that the land belonged to Brahmo Samaj.Criticising the systemic delays, Mohanangaiah Swamy, the president of the SC/ST Study and Welfare Committee, hit out at civic authorities and elected representatives for failing to develop the memorial for years, suggesting that any upcoming work must strictly adhere to eco-friendly guidelines.
