Lalbagh trees face the axe

Lalbagh trees face the axe
By: Chetan R Date: 2009-04-15



Bangalore:
A stretch of 350 feet being cleared to make way for Metro station

The Metro rail axe fell on the precious trees in Lalbagh over the weekend and no one protested.

High profile candidates contesting from Bangalore south, crying for a garden city, kept mum even as the trees were being cut to clear the space for the metro station.


All fall down: The wall of Lalbagh that runs along the West gate has been demolished pic/Satish Badiger

The BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited) and Land Army axed trees in a stretch of about 350 feet along R V Road and has begun work from Monday. Though many more trees will be axed, leaders who promise a green city are nowhere in sight.

"We have lost hope and are helpless," said H S Doreswamy, a Gandhian and freedom fighter, who resides in the constituency. "The leaders from political parties aren't reacting. It's unfortunate."

Doreswamy had spearheaded a protest against the construction of a flyover in Basvanagudi, but the nonagenarian is keeping quiet this time.

Save Lalbagh

Land Army's JCB vehicles have smashed the compound wall of Lalbagh. About three hundred and fifty feet of the compound wall along RV road has been demolished and trees are marked for cutting to accommodate the proposed Metro station here.

More than twenty feet of the park from RV road has been marked for acquisition, which, according to residents, is in violation of the law.

"The issue is still pending in court. Moreover the work is in violation of high court direction that restricts cutting trees without clearance by a tree officer," alleged Leo Saldanha, environmentalist.

"Trees can't be cut and law doesn't permit anyone to destroy a place of heritage value without a debate in legislature. We will fight in a court of law to save Lalbagh."

Ignorant

While some candidates were unaware of the tree cutting, a few promised to fight before it's too late.

"I'm not aware of it," said Prof Radhakrishna, JD(S) candidate. "But our party will see that Lalbagh will be restored as it is. We would fight for it." BJP candidate and former MP Ananth Kumar hoped for the best and said ABIDE (Agenda for Bangalore Infrastructure Development Taskforce) would take care of it.

"I'm hopeful Lalbagh won't be damaged as ABIDe is monitoring the work," said Ananth Kumar. "I will act after finding out public opinion."

Independent candidate Captain Gopinath didn't visit the place, but expressed concern over the tree felling.

"I'm keen on preserving places with heritage value, which I proved when I bought my bungalow," said Captain Gopinath.

"We want developmental works, but not at the cost of historic structures. I will visit the place tomorrow."

History
Hyder Ali commissioned the botanical garden in 1760, which has the largest variety of plants in Asia. His son Tippu Sultan completed the park that spreads over 240 acres. The garden that has over thousand species of flora has a glass house on the lines of London's Crystal Palace. Lalbagh is famous for the flower shows held twice a year.

Vote for Lalbagh lovers
The inaction of candidates has triggered off a unique SMS campaign in the constituency that appeals to voters to choose a candidate who stands for the restoration of Lalbagh in its original form.