The grove had also been listed as the Biodiversity Heritage site by the Karnataka Biodiversity Board on January 24, 2007.

 The tamarind trees called as living legend came into light accidentally when two horticulture officials Dr S V Hittalamani and S Narayanaswamy, fascinated by Nallur history went in search of archeological ruins. “We came in search of ruins but found unexplainable trees with varieties of tamarind fruits,” said Narayanaswamy.
The grove which has been a pilgrimage place (feared and worshiped by people believing it as cursed) is a puzzle to the scientists as the trees have been showing uncommon behaviour.

Dr Bhaskar, Regional Co-Ordinator of the National Afforestation and Eco- Development Board has found suckers and prop roots. Considering these factors, Dr Kempanna, scientist at the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has begun a study on the stress survivality and sustainablity and immortality.

Nallur being a home to 297 trees and over a hundred species of birds, the experts wonder whether it will withstand the test of new age problem - Bangalore International Airport.

“The problem was entirely different all these years, but we do not know what will happen if there is noise pollution and the use of electronic gadgets at the airport. They may threaten the existence of the grove, but we need to wait and watch than coming to conclusion,” said Narayana Swamy.

Disturbing sound

S Sridhar, Founder Member, Institute of Nature Conservation Education Research and Training (INCERT), says the bird life will be affected due to the airport related activities and the anthropogenic pressure arising due to the airport cannot be ruled out.

The experts also said that the forest department should immediately fence the area and protect the place before considering its vulnerability to the menace of encroachment.

Air traffic

Too many aircrafts has also been a matter of concern. “ It has been a severe noise pollution, the bird life has already been hit many raptors which were common here were totally absent here during our visit to the place last week,” said Manjunath P, Secretary, Green Cross, who monitors bird life here every week.

Harish Bhat, Researcher, Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc who is working on bird diversity over there said that the he has witnessed over a dozen aircraft flying noisily over the grove.

He fears that the airport might bring in large number of settlers around the place.
But the silver lining is that the realtors might give it a miss considering the scarcity of water in and around Devanahalli.