“Please Don’t Kill My Children!” Padma Shri Saalumarada begs Karnataka CM

News Bharati    04-Jun-2019
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Bengaluru, June 4: Renowned ‘Tree Mother’, Padma Shri award winner Salu Marada Thimmakka has begged Karnataka Chief minister Kumaraswamy not to cut the trees for road widening project.  Yesterday, Thimakka had a meeting with Karnataka CM in the presence of Deputy CM Dr. G. Parameshwara in Bengaluru and made an appeal that 287 trees standing on the four-kilometre stretch be spared. In response, the CM has assured that he will consider the possibility of finding an alternative route to protect the trees.


 

The government of Karnataka has proposed to widen the Bagepalli-Halaguru road which has necessitated slaughter of the trees grown alongside. Along a four-kilometre stretch of the same road between Kudur and Hudikal in Ramangara District, 107-year old Padma Shri awardee Saalumarada Thimmakka has not only planted but endearingly grown around 385 banyan trees. The PWD officials of Karnataka have told that the survey for road widening has been done which includes the tree stretch planted by Thimmakka. Protesting against this project, Thimmakka first met Deputy CM of Karnataka G. Parameshwara and he then took her to the CM. The Chief Minister has assured of not letting the trees be cut down but the final notification on this matter has not yet been released. Saalumarada’s plea has received massive support from green activists across Karnataka.


 
The story of Saalumarada is that of grit and determination. She is illiterate and has been a casual labour but her contribution to nature conservation is indeed unmatchable. Being unable to give birth to child, she started planting banyan trees along the road in lieu of children and grown them with mother’s love. The four-kilometre stretch is now shadowed by around 385 trees planted by Thimmakka since 1960. The management of these trees has now been taken over by the government of Karnataka. Her tree-plantation work still continues with the same enthusiasm and love. Just a year back, the Government of India offered her the prestigious Padma Shri Award for her unparalleled work. Thimmakka’s lifelong hard work has been highly appreciated on international platforms such as BBC.