BMP incurs public wrath over tree cutting

BMP incurs public wrath over tree cutting
Deccan Herald

Members of ‘Hasire Usiru’ said that many trees that were already cut were safe and did not pose any threat.

Eco-friendly Bangaloreans laid siege to the head office of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and grilled Commissioner K Jothiramalingam for nearly two hours on Tuesday, opposing the move to axe trees in the City.

Hundreds of environment enthusiasts under the banner “Hasire Usiru,” mostly students from different schools and colleges, took the Commissioner to task, questioning his authority to permit “reckless” cutting of trees and demanded immediate withdrawal of its tree felling operations. They staged dharna and shouted slogans when officials refused to allow them to meet the Commissioner. They, later, forced entry into the meeting hall where Mr Jothiramalingam was to meet only a few representatives of the group. ‘Hasire Usiru’ members alleged that the Commissioner “does not have powers” to order tree-felling and his action was arbitrary. Many trees that were already cut were safe and were not posing any threat in any way, the members said.

Noisy meet

Though the Commissioner gave a patient hearing to each one of them, the activists turned impatient and started hurling questions all over again, even before the former could complete his reply. “I have not given permission to cut all 702 trees as proposed by the traffic police. We are verifying each case in the proposal. Only those found to be posing a threat to life and property is being felled,” he explained.

He said a third party inspection will be conducted to find out whether trees that were cut so far really posed any threat or not. However, none of them apparently paid any attention. This endless drama went on for nearly two hours when the Commissioner abruptly walk-ed out. The irked protesters, however, refused to leave the meeting hall in the BMP, insisting that the Commissioner immediately stop tree-felling. Many corporators, including A Krishnappa, K B Mohan and others, arrived to intervene.

At last, the Commissioner agreed to resume the meeting on the condition that only a few representatives participate. Environmentalist Leo Saldanha, Suresh Heblikar and a few others attended the closed-door meeting in the Commissioner’s chamber where the two parties came to a meeting point but only temporarily.

Tree cutting suspended

Mr Jothiramalingam said the ongoing tree cutting operation will be suspended and will be resumed only after taking the BMP Council’s approval. “I will place the issue before the Council at its next meeting and action will be taken based on its decision,” he told reporters.

It is an obligatory duty of the BMP to cut trees that pose a danger to life and property. “People squarely blame the BMP if there is any mishap. There are a number of trees in the middle of busy roads. They need to be removed for the safety of motorists,” he explained.

Moreover, Article 323 of the KMC Act empowers the BMP Commissioner to cut dangerous trees, he pointed out.