BMP, forest dept see red over ‘green’ permits

BMP, forest dept see red over ‘green’ permits
Deccan Herald

While the State forest dept believes that the BMP is trespassing its territory by felling trees, the BMP sticks to its stand.

The official guardians of greenery are furious with the recent Bangalore Mahanagara Palike order, paving the way for felling of 400 trees in the City. But this has little to do with environmental concerns.

The State Forest Department has taken up cudgels against the BMP because it believes that the civic body is trespassing its territory by issuing the permits.

This permit issue has created a controversy between the Forest Department and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), with both laying claim over trees in Bangalore. The BMP claims that under the Karnataka Municipality Administration Act, 1976, the Palike is authorised to issue permits for tree felling on those trees which are located on BMP roads. However, senior officials in the Forest Department say that under the Tree Preservation Act, 1976, they are the final authority in issuing permits, and “until recently, the BMP used to refer all requests of tree felling to us”. As both Acts were passed at the same time, confusion exists on which Act is ‘superior’. As a result, Bangalore now has two authorities issuing permits for tree felling — the forest department and BMP.
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Sources reveal the BMP Commissioner had sent a letter to the Deputy Conservator of Forests staking claim on the trees on BMP land in January. “The forest department is in the process of verifying this,” said Conservator of Forests, Bangalore Circle, V Rangaswamy.

Under Section 8 of the Tree Preservation Act, the Tree Officer of the Forest Department is the ultimate authority in giving permission, whether on private property or BMP roads, added Deputy Conservator of Forests B M Parameshwara.

But Commissioner of BMP Jothiramalingam believes that while trees that are on private property should get permission from the Tree Cutting Authority of the Forest Department for axing, the same is not required for those on BMP roads. “The inspection work of a tree on BMP property is directed to the Horticulture Department, which decides whether the tree must be felled, or branches are to be pruned. We invite public tenders from contractors for tree felling and work order goes to the highest bidder,” said Commissioner of BMP Jothiramalingam.

The Forest Department, meanwhile, say they have planted an average of 20,000 saplings on BMP land every year, and thus have equal right over the trees. BMP Commissioner, dismissed the claim.