Trees axed to widen stormwater drain near JP Park

More than 30 trees were cut in order to build a stormwater drain on Tank Bund Road near JP Park.

"In 2006, when I was a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) member, I had planted more than 50 Mahagony trees on the side of the road from Chowdeshwari bus stand to Shankarnag railway gate. These trees were felled to make way for the stormwater drain," said B R Nanjundappa, former area councillor and BBMP member of JP Park.

He also said that a stormwater drain was built in 2006 and now the BBMP has taken up the widening work. The Palike is planning to widen the drain by 3 feet, he added.

The Palike is also planning to cut another 20 trees along the road for the same purpose.

"We need to stop the officials from cutting these trees. I had also written a letter to local MLA Munirathna and BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad. But no action was taken," he said.

Meanwhile, Mamatha Vasudev, area corporator, said, "They have cut the trees sometime during midnight. Otherwise we could have saved those trees. The officials have to consider the impact before cutting down huge trees. The officers do not even know that trees are being cut to widen the drain."