3 huge trees hacked in Vyalikaval

3 huge trees hacked in Vyalikaval
Dawn operation amid tight security leaves resident
NIRANJAN KAGGERE BANGALORE : Even as World Environment Day is barely five days away (June 5), Bangaloreans have to mourn the death of three giant eucalyptus trees that stood amidst the concrete jungle of Vyalikaval for many years.

They were chopped down in a hush-hush operation on Thursday morning, to make space for resettling slum dwellers. The land was part of an area initially allotted for a park, near the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ward office.

It was an operation undertaken by the BBMP despite strong protests from the citizens of Swimming Pool Extension.

The sudden act around 5.30 am left the local residents angry. Many argued with the officials, asking them to drop their plan of cutting down the trees. However, the corporation succeeded in clearing the space under police security.

The trees have been taken out to house 42 families from the Netaji Subhashchandra Bose slum in Malleshwaram, said Kiran, BBMP Assistant Executive Engineer. “We are taking only a few meters of land and also planting six saplings in their place,” he said. The housing of slumdwellers is part of the Central government’s initiative of providing housing facilities for the urban poor under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. But the rehabilitation at the cost of surrounding environment has vexed the residents.

The park is full of tall trees which have been nurtured by the locals over many years. According to N Krishnamurthy, a resident, “When my father had bought this site 10 years ago, the BDA plan showed that this space is left for park area. We don’t want this breathing space to be eliminated. The ward office premises is also housing a nursery, health centre and literacy campaign office and we don’t want this atmosphere to get disturbed.” Unfortunately, BBMP seems deaf to such emotions.