Tree-felling: notice to State, BBMP

Tree-felling: notice to State, BBMP

Staff Reporter

Petitioners say road-widening project has no

legal sanction

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday ordered issue of emergent notice to the State Government, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and several other respondents on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the indiscriminate cutting of trees in Bangalore.

A Division Bench, comprising the Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice A.N. Venugopala Gowda, admitted the petition and ordered issue of notices to the respondents.

The petitioners — Environmental Support Group, Leo Saldanha and CIVIC — said the State and the authorities were going ahead with indiscriminate cutting of trees in several areas of Bangalore for road-widening.
Permission

Citing records, they said the authorities had permitted the BBMP to cut road-side trees on several stretches, including Palace Road and Seshadri Road.

The road-widening project did not have legal sanction, and it was not as per the provisions of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act.

It said the road-widening projects in Bangalore were poorly conceived.

They urged the court to stay the felling of trees.

The DivisionBench adjourned further hearing on the case.
Direction

A Division Bench comprising Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr. Justice Venugopala Gowda on Friday directed the State Government to consider the request of the Advocates Association for funds for taking up the third phase of work at the Advocates Academy/Vakeelara Bhavan Complex in Bangalore.

The Bench also directed the authorities to take steps to clear within two months the area adjoining the compound of the Karnataka Housing Board and behind the District and Sessions Court Complex for construction of a link road.