Over 70 trees felled to lay road near Pattandur Agrahara lake

Violating the National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, the BBMP has axed at least 70 trees to lay a road near the Pattandur Agrahara Lake in Whitefield on Tuesday.

In all, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is planning to uproot at least 140 trees, including those near the lake to construct a link road to Varthur Kodi Main Road and 80-feet ITPL Road. According to residents, the civic body was secretly going ahead with the project in violation of the NGT orders. The green bench in its orders on maintaining buffer zones in 2017 had said that no development work can be taken up around the lakes in Bengaluru from 30 to 75 metres. "But this road is clearly violating the order and the BBMP officers are secretly doing it," said Sandeep Anirudhan, a nearby resident.

Following protests from residents, the Palike had earlier suspended dumping debris to lay the road. "They had stopped the work, but since the heat has died down, they are back with the work," he said.

Although the issue has been raised in all ward committee meetings, they are not considering the seriousness of the issue, he said. Sandeep also said that the civic body was going ahead with the plan even though it was not included in the revised master plan, 2031. Appu Rao, Deputy Conservator of Forest, BBMP, was not available for comments despite calls.