Greens see red over alleged inaction of ‘empowered panel’

Greens see red over alleged inaction of ‘empowered panel’

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Two months ago, environmentalists in the city saw, well, green when an “empowered committee” was constituted by the High Court of Karnataka to keep tabs on the indiscriminate felling of trees and loss of livelihood due to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s road widening activities. However, eight meetings later, petitioners and some members of this committee itself allege that the panel has failed in its intent and is acting outside the purview of its jurisdiction.

Since the inception of this committee, road widening work — which includes felling of several trees — has been carried out on Palace Road, Race Course Road and Kanakapura Road, to name a few.

Petitioners took objection to the fact that committee Chairman Yellappa Reddy was inspecting the Nandi corridor on Saturday. “When this matter is in the Supreme Court, why is Mr. Yellappa Reddy taking up the matter?” asked Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group.

When contacted, Mr. Reddy told The Hindu that NICE had approached the committee to seek permission to transplant 40 trees on the road leading from Banashankari to Mysore Road. “We don’t have the powers to stop any work. We are an advisory committee. We are scrutinising every project and all decisions so far have been unanimous,” he said.

Committee member Carol Upadhya said she had written to the chairperson expressing displeasure over the committee’s functioning. “Till date no official decision has been made. No proper procedures are laid down and violations of the laws concerned have not been discussed,” she said.

Three committee members have sent letters voicing disquiet over the committee’s functioning to the chairperson. However, Mr. Reddy denied receiving any such letters.