Eco groups launch salvage act against tree felling

Eco groups launch salvage act against tree felling
Deccan Herald

The BMP said that it is empowered to issue felling orders, while environment activist Leo Saldanha said that the order amounts to an “offence”.

Even as the green cover at Richmond Circle on Residency Road literally turned into a green carpet overnight, strewn with uprooted tree trunks and broken branches, eco groups launched a salvage act, by disallowing authorities to continue with tree felling, on Saturday.

Regardless of the hot afternoon sun, over 100 tree-lovers parked themselves on the remains of an axed tree, raising slogans against the felling order issued by the BMP of over 700 trees for the purpose of road widening. Another team of the Environment Support Group (ESG) said they will patrol the area at night to prevent any nocturnal tree cutting exercise.

Karnataka Tourism’s brand ambassador, actress Vasundhara Das too took to the streets. “I was distressed to see the chopped tree when I was passing through, yesterday. So I joined in the protest as a Bangalorean. We have to save the trees, which are symbols of our heritage,” Vasundhara Das said. For users of the Richmond Circle bus stand, the felled trees would mean loss of shady spots on the traffic-ridden road. “Most of us seek shelter under these trees. With trees gone, it will be torturous for us,” said Ashwin Nagaraj, a sales executive.

BMP order is ‘offence’

Countering BMP’s claim that it is empowered to issue felling orders for trees on BMP roads as per Sections 58, 66 and 323 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act without the permission from Karnataka Forest Department, environment activist Leo Saldanha, quoting another Order given by the Secretary, Department of Ecology and Environment, stated that the BMP Commissioner’s tree felling order amounts to an “offence”. According to the Order dated August 24, 1991, “indiscriminate cutting of trees where the Forest Department and the Corporation/Municipal Authorities have themselves granted permission, is illegal and would be infringing the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and violative of the provisions of Karnataka (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1976. Such actions are also considered as offences committed by the Government officers under Section 17 of the Environment (Protection) Act.”

“There is also a specific direction from the Principal Secretary of Home Department Brahm Dutt to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests empowering him to conduct a complete review before allowing tree felling. But nine trees were axed on Bull Temple Road even before such a review,” Saldanha points out.