Metro line: Trees to be axed

As many as 61 trees will be axed in Bangalore South zone to make way for the metro line from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road metro station to Bommasandra metro station (metro reach 5) in Phase 2 project.

Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road, known to be one of the stretches with a thick green cover, will lose 18 trees. While at the Silk Board 28 trees will be axed, 15 trees will be brought down in the BTM Layout.

The BBMP has given the permission to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to axe these trees.

"We have given them permission to chop these trees as they come in the way of metro construction work," said Cholaraj, Deputy Conservator of Forest, BBMP.

Puttaswamy Gowda, Deputy Conservator of Forest (South zone), BBMP said: "The permission to clear trees at the Silk Board was given long ago. It is only now that we have granted permission for RV Road and BTM layout."

According to BMRCL public relations officer Vasanth Rao, the BMRCL actually tweaked the plan and changed the construction sequence from Jayadeva Flyover to RV Road to save trees.

"We have saved 200 trees by changing the construction sequence from the Jaydeva Flyover to the RV Road metro station.

"The project even got delayed by a year due to this. If we further need to save trees, then we may have to bring down some residential buildings," he said.

However, Vijay Nishanth, tree activist, said the government agencies were giving permission to cut trees in phase manner just to deceive people.

'Fooling the public'

"A high court order states that public has to be consulted if anyone wants to cut more than 50 trees. But by applying to cut down 18 or 15 trees, some of these junior officers are fooling us. I have even written a letter to Assistant Conservator of Forest, Shantakumar of BBMP South zone to conduct a tree numbering exercise in the area and he has agreed," said Vijay.

Meanwhile, Bahubali Raju, secretary of Jayanagar 5th Block Resident Welfare Association said: "This will be a disaster to RV Road known for its green cover. People love to walk along this stretch even in summer. The BBMP should reconsider its decision."