Nearly 50 trees axed

Nearly 50 trees axed

Staff Reporter

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Trees that were cut along K.R. Road for Metro Rail work in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: The city bid farewell to nearly 50 trees along K.R. Road on Friday, and the number is likely to rise to 110 this weekend. These heritage trees, which have provided shade and livelihood to nearly two generations of Bangaloreans, will join the escalating numbers of casualties of various “development” activities in the city.

Tree-felling on this stretch, which started early on Friday, is being done to make way for the Metro Rail. While the greens (environmentalists) fume over the “mindless cutting of trees”, authorities say that they have played by the book and sought permission for its activities.

Speaking to The Hindu Suresh S., Assistant Conservator of Forests (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike), said that all permissions had been taken.

“Work will proceed. We have permission from the empowered committee headed by Yellappa Reddy to go ahead with this work,” he said. The BBMP has also given approval to cut trees, also approved by this afore mentioned committee, on three stretches: Yeshwanthpur to Swastik circle, Siddaiah circle to Shiv Shankar circle and Magadi Road.

The empowered committee, headed by Mr. Yellappa Reddy, was constituted by the Karnataka High Court to monitor road-widening and other development projects in the city.

The committee has been criticised by several NGOs, including committee members, who have said that it is not fulfilling its mandate.