Tree helpline

Since August 2003, the Forest Department's Bangalore (urban) division has withdrawn the carte-blanche given to city authorities like the BMP to fell trees, on a complaint filed by ESG or the Environment Support Group, an NGO. The ESG runs a tree helpline (even the forest department runs one, based out of the Aranya Bhavan, but, not surprisingly, they never respond to complaints) where citizens can call in to complain of any illegal tree-felling. Read this for information on what the rules about tree felling are and the next time you see a tree being felled, even if it is on private land, do not hesitate to question the perpetrators and call the tree helpline at 26534364.