Mysuru: Following complaints from morning strollers of massive tree branches at Kukkarahalli Lake obstructing their free movement, University of Mysore (UoM), which maintains the waterbody, pruned some of them. However, conservationists and green activists opined that the branches posed no threat, and had been chopped off without cause.In the wake of the city being lashed by heavy showers over the past few weeks, the massive branches started to droop a little. However, there were no signs of the branches restricting the movement of walkers, despite which the varsity received complaints, acting on which they pruned some of them.Understandably, environmentalists are not chuffed with the varsity’s move. Angry with UoM’s decision, environmentalist Gangadhar said that the tree branches did not disturb the strollers. “It is very easy to cut branches of trees, but the damage it causes to birds and animals is irreparable,” he added.Gangadhar opined that walkers ought to adjust to the nature of the park instead of complaining about what he dubbed were ‘small’ issues.Located in the heart of the city, Kukkarahalli Lake is contiguous with the UoM’s Manasagangorti campus, and is one of the largest lungspaces in the city. Spread across 150 acres, the lake is home to 150 species of trees, and attracts more than 180 species of birds, including the spot-billed pelican and the painted stork.Save Kukkarahalli Lake committee convenet KM Jayaramaiah told TOI that the walkers had complained to UoM authorities about the drooping branches disturbing their stroll.Assistant horticulture officer of UoM SK Mujavar told TOI, “Some of the morning walkers told us that the branches hit their head. So, we trimmed the branches a few days ago. Personally, I do not support even the cutting of branches, but since there were complaints, we had to take up the trimming exercise.”

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