Protector turns Predator

Protector turns Predator
Vijay Times

Much to the shock of tree lovers in the city, a careless act by the horticulture department in charge of maintaining trees and gardens has ended up burning down many trees in the stretch between Vidhana Soudha and the Legislators Home.

The trees were burnt down on Sunday morning when the horticulture personnel ended up burning the waste instead of composting it in the pit. Trees like Tabobia, Pine and others were affected in process.

Narayanaswamy, joint director, Horticulture, justified the departments act saying, "We usually prune trees during holidays and decompose the waste in the compost pit. But, the waste generated by pruning pine trees do not decompose and can hurt people if strewn around. They are also toxic by nature. I know we should not be burning the waste in the compost pit. But, we have not found any other place to burn down the waste and would have to go out of the city to find a place." Any act that harms or injures a tree is a criminal offence under the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976. According to B Annaiah, deputy conservator of forest, Bangalore Urban district and a tree officer, "People indulging in harming the tree, including peeling of the barks, hacking them and burning them down, can be booked under this act." The offence will invite both fine and imprisonment, he added.

Environmentalists are aghast at the sheer callousness displayed by the horticulture department.

Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group rubbished the departments justification behind burning the waste. He said, "How can any part of the tree be toxic? I am sorry but a horticulture department member should not say this. Burning of waste within the Vidhana Soudha campus is illegal. The tree officer should take action against his colleagues."