BMP vows to continue tree felling

Tree felling will go on, says BMP

The Hindu

BANGALORE: Sprucing up and felling trees that "obstruct traffic" on city roads will go on, according to the Special Commissioner of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), Subhash Chandra.

Environmentalists in the city have been opposing tree felling saying this will cause pollution and bring down greenery. Mr. Subhash Chandra told The Hindu that the decision to cut or spruce up 702 trees was taken following a request by the police as they were obstructing the traffic movement. "This will go on as far as I know," he said. He refuted the claim of the Environment Support Group, an NGO, that the Forest Department had directed the BMP to stop tree felling.

He said the BMP Commissioner ordered cutting or sprucing up of trees under the provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976. In his opinion, there was no question of the department intervening in the matter.

But the BMP had discussed the matter with the department and explained to its officials the circumstances leading to the move.

Mr. Subhash Chandra said by last Monday, only 72 trees were felled while 184 trees were only spruced up by cutting off the branches that obstructed the traffic.