HC panel to keep tabs on tree felling

HC panel to keep tabs on tree felling
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The High Court on Saturday formed a committee to monitor the indiscriminate felling of trees and review the road widening programme in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.



The Petitioners Environment Support Group (ESG), Leo Saldhana, Co-Ordinator, ESG and Civic Bangalore in their petition dated May 12, 2008 had stated that the 91 roads planned for widening in core Bangalore does not comply with the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act 1961 as well as the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, and had sought a stay of the project.

The petitioners in their submission said that during the change in land use, the public should be informed and involved in decision making by calling for an objection. It should be advertised in two leading newspapers and should begin acquisition and widening programme after the consultancy - the procedures not followed by BBMP.
The Court finding the necessity of the road widening had sought via media to resolve the matter. Counsel for BBMP Ashok Harnhalli, suggested the Bio diversity Committee headed by A N Yellappa Reddy to review the widening programme constantly.

The division bench comprising of Justice Gopalgowda and Justice Ravi Malimath to ensure proper monitoring sought three names from the either parties on Saturday to be included in the committee.

Members

The petitioners have suggested Dr Subbarayana Prasad, former professor and dean, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Dr Shirdi Prasad Tekur, community health specialist and Dr Carol Upadhya, fellow, School of Social Sciences, Social Anthropology, National Institute of Advanced Studies as the members of review committee, while BBMP has suggested three names H Paramesh, Shekar Madhu and Sharma to work along with Yellappa Reddy.

The committee will visit the roads to be widened and review them including the tree felling from Monday.