Tree-felling mafia denudes city

Tree-felling mafia denudes city
BY AKANKSHA MEHROTRA
BENGALURU

Gangs cut trees, claim they’re clearing roads for Metro I ‘ Some residents are cutting trees because the roots are damaging ‘ compound wall
: Gangs appear to be on the prowl in the city to steal trees, while claiming to be working for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Residents of RT Nagar and HMT Layout claim to have come across gangs chopping trees on the pretext of clearing the roads for the Metro and other projects.

“We have saved trees on two occasions over the last week. The people here have struggled to grow the trees and even name them in this area. We request both the forest department and the police to stop this mafia which is at work,” says president of the Visvesvaraya Nagar Welfare Association, HMT Layout, RT Nagar, A. T. Krishnamurthy.

The angry residents say although they have informed the BBMP about gangs posing as it employees, it has done nothing about it.

“We cannot stop the BBMP from doing its work as it is for public good . But the others who are taking advantage of the situation must be stopped,” stresses a resident of HMT Layout, RT Nagar, Tammana R.

The residents have tried to verify the claims of the gangs about acting on orders to cut down the trees. “We contacted the officers they mentioned, only to be told that no such order had been given. We then contacted the police, but they too ignored the problem ,” adds Mr Krishnamurthy.

The gangs sometimes disappear when questioned closely by the people. “They say Metro work, Metro work, when we ask what they are doing and then when we seem suspicious they run away,” recounts another resident.

Besides the so-called mafia, the people in these localities are also accusing other residents of cutting down trees to make way for parking their vehicles.

“Some are cutting them down because the roots are absorbing their drinking water or damaging the sewage pipeline or compound wall,” alleges Mr Krishnamurthy.