Greens march to save GKVK trees

Greens march to save GKVK trees

What started as an assembly of a handful, gathered strength by the time marchers reached Raj Bhavan

Vaishalli Chandra. Bangalore



A handful kick-started the 'Save GKVK' protest march on a breezy, overcast Saturday morning.
The unusually small crowd, made up of determined individuals, passionate about saving the green campus cover, began to gather outside the GKVK main entrance a little after half past seven.
Morning walkers, commuters and passers-by stopped to inquire and the placard holding individuals informed them of the upcoming road that would connect MS Palya to NH 7 and would cut through the GKVK campus."It is shocking how so many of them are unaware of the road coming through the campus," said a participant.
A token march later the crowd dispersed to meet again near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road, by which time the ranks of the group had swollen. Apart from residents of Vidyaranyapura, people from all over the city — Banashankari, Marathahalli, Yelahanka, Vijayanagar, Hebbal and Domlur — had now joined forces.
The sizeable crowd then marched to the Central Telegraph Office Circle. Children along with supporters distributed informational flyers on the way. These kids, students of an international school in Yelahanka were accompanied by their teacher, who they informed teaches them environment science.
A concern of losing "a few remaining green open spaces" acted as a bond that bound the protestors. Friends of a green cause, they spoke and exchanged news on the update of activities within the campus. And while the authorities may choose to ignore such protests, the protestors felt that there was an urgent to need to sustain such campaigns and for that there was a need to garner public support.
"We are living isolated lives, clueless about the goings-on," said Praveen, who felt that while the protest may not make an impression on the authorities, it was needed because people need to know about the changes that are taking place around them.
"It is an important green urban space and is part of my neighbourhood," he added.
Many felt that the numbers protesting weren't sufficient. As one of the participants pointed out, "We need a sustained campaign and if sizeable people take to streets, surely the authorities will stand up to take notice."