Auctioning trees to widen roads

Auctioning trees to widen roads

The Hindu

BANGALORE: After the high profile auction of government lands across Bangalore urban district, it is now the turn of the grand old trees on two key roads in the city to go under the hammer.

On Monday, 66 stately trees on Race Course Road and Palace Road were auctioned for a sum of Rs. 1.9 lakh and Rs. 2.49 including taxes,

Krishna Udupudi, Deputy Chief Conservator of forests, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) told The Hindu. These trees are set to be felled for widening the two roads for the smooth flow of traffic.

To cut down on costs and use of personnel, the BBMP auctioned standing trees. Those who won the bids will have to bear the expenses of cutting and transporting the trees.

The same method was adopted for the auction of trees that were cut for the Malleswaram underpass, Mr. Udupudi said.“We had divided the 66 trees into eight lots, which means that the bidder will have to buy the entire lot. The lot with three mahogany trees netted the maximum of Rs. 70, 000,” said Mr. Udupudi. Further, he explained that the value of the tree depends on the species, girth and height of the tree. “A mahogany or timber tree will fetch us more than say a gulmohar. Some of the trees fetch very less because the cost of felling the tree itself is steep,” he said.

Apart from the mahogany trees, all others fetched prices on par with the government value, he added.