Greens protest tree felling on Seshadri Road

Greens protest tree felling on Seshadri Road

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Members of Hasiru Usiru, an umbrella organisation of several non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, gathered in front of Freedom Park to protest the felling of trees on Seshadri Road.

Six mature trees lining the road faced the axe on Monday even as environmentalists claimed that proper permission had not been sought for the felling. However, M.R. Suresh, BBMP Tree Officer, told The Hindu that he had granted permission following the committee’s approval.

Petitioners, who had filed the PIL leading to the constitution of the Empowered Committee on Road Widening, have written to the BBMP Commissioner and Deputy Conservator of Forests (BBMP) alleging “no consensus was arrived at”.

“The minutes of this meeting have still not been prepared for endorsement by the Empowered Committee, thereby there could not have been any decision to proceed with the tree felling,” the letter stated.

“This is part of the corridor which has to be widened and need to ease the congestion at the Maharani Circle. It was clearly deliberated at the meeting held on December 10.

It was opposed only by two members out of seven committee members present. If this majority vote is not a decision then what is?” Mr. Suresh asked. The petitioners have asked for an immediate stop to tree felling and any other work related to it.