JOIN USActivists want BBMP's written assurance on saving trees
Tree lovers are not satisfied with BBMP forest cell’s verbal assurance that 245 marked trees near Dairy Circle will not be cut down for the second phase of Metro from Gottigere to Nagawara.
“We need an assurance in writing that they will not allow BMRCL to fell these trees,” said Arun Prasad, an activist.
More than 25 nature lovers had gathered in front of Accenture near Diary Circle to save the trees on Saturday morning. The trees, which are more than 60 years old, have been marked in red for felling. “When the Metro station here is underground, why should they cut down these old trees which have a rich ecological value?” said Prasad.
“The Metro station here will be similar to the one at Cubbon Park. They did not chop down a single tree for building the Cubbon Park Metro station. Why can’t they adopt a similar model here?” asked Prasad. “It is illogical to destruct the green cover of the city,” opined Kumar Jahgirdar, president, Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP), which led the protest.
Babu Peter Samson, another activist, said, “We are not against development. Metro is a good initiative as it helps ease traffic. But it should not come at the cost of green cover.”
Appu Rao, deputy conservator of forests, BBMP, told DH, “The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) will not be allowed to cut down trees.” Nature lovers will submit a petition to BBMP and BMRCL not to fell the trees on Monday.
Silent march on Old Airport Road
Residents expressed displeasure over the over-night felling of 46 trees on Old Airport Road to build the signal-free corridor. Joy V R, a resident of Sarjapur who participated in the march, said, “BBMP officials do not turn up when there is a problem due to overnight rain. But they work overtime to chop down trees.” Residents plan to hold a silent protest on Sunday at 9 am at HAL bus stop against the sudden axing of trees.