Residents up in arms over felling of trees

Residents up in arms over felling of trees

The Hindu

Police complaint filed against BMP

BANGALORE: Residents of Lavelle Road and students of St. Joseph's College on Thursday protested against felling of trees on Residency Road and stalled the axing process.

Around 20 people gathered near the Residency Road bus stop and stopped cutting down of one of the eight trees identified for chopping. They stopped the workers from axing the tree following directions of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), which has been asked by the Task Force on "City Traffic Management" to axe 700 trees in the city.

Suparna Baksi, a resident of Lavelle Road and member of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, said the trees have not caused any problems for movement of vehicles. The Environment Support Group (ESG), which was not a part of the protest, said in a press note on Thursday that the BMP was illegally felling trees on the Residency Road. On its complaint, the Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Forests and Ecology, had directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to take immediate action in the matter. "When this review is in progress, the BMP has no authority to fell roadside trees," it said.

Police complaint

The ESG on Thursday filed a complaint with Ashok Nagar police station.

The felling of trees violated Section 2.5 (i) of the Forest Conservation Rulesas it has not been authorised by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Bangalore Urban).