Trees make way for swanky car showroom

Trees make way for swanky car showroom
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: In what could have been a major dent to the green wealth on Queen’s Road was saved a bit with timely intervention of environmentalist Suresh Heblikar on Sunday evening.

However, an age old-mango tree (mangefera indica), a banyan tree (ficus benghalensis) and Peepal tree (Ficus riligiosa) were grounded in just a day to make way for a swanky Toyota car showroom.

The dilapidated house at No 20, Mudaliar Chetty road, a cross-road of Queen’s Road will now be converted to Motor World Limited - a Toyota Showroom. There were five large healthy trees grown inside the compound wall of which two have been completely axed. One is half chopped and other tree was saved when Heblikar objected.

The manager of the building protested that they had valid tree-felling documents from the Forest Cell of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and will cut all the trees before starting the construction.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, Suresh Heblikar said that there is an urgent need to save greenery along with infrastructure development. He alleged that the officers do not inspect the area before giving permission for tree felling.

‘‘All these trees were highly valuable in maintaining the best biodiversity with an heavy urban sprawl around. The BBMP should convince the owners to retain trees along with new buildings,’’ he said.

When contacted BBMP Tree officer Udupudi Krishna he said that trees are allowed to be cut only after strict verification.

‘‘We shall re-inspect the building. If they are felling more than designated number, we will take action,’’ he added.