Greater Bengaluru Authority enlists students to map, remove hazardous trees

Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has roped in students from agriculture, biology and similar streams to map dried trees and branches in each corporation.

Based on the maps prepared by the students, authorities will visit the locations and decide on the course of action, GBA’s Assistant Conservator of Forests said.

Students were trained by experts to identify the kind of trees that need attention. They were also given the addresses of roads where the trees must be checked. Two students per corporation are taking part in the exercise.

The process was introduced to ensure dried trees and branches do not turn into safety hazards.

The authority is also clearing wood from fallen trees and branches without delay.

“Good quality wood with a hard bark will be auctioned to people or establishments requiring wood for activities such as cooking or firewood,” said Santosh Kumar, Assistant Conservator of Forest, affiliated with the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests within the GBA limits.

Recently, GBA Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao directed officials to remove trees posing a danger across the GBA limits.

Tree branches obstructing traffic, posing risks to pedestrians on footpaths, dried branches, trees leaning onto roads and those blocking streetlights must be cleared immediately, he said.

So far, 79 dried trees, 789 dried branches, 48 dangerous trees and branches have been removed in the South Corporation limits. In the Central Corporation limits, 42 dry trees, 395 dry branches, 15 dangerous trees and 369 such branches have been cut. Data from other corporations are yet to be released.

Mishaps in 2025

Last year, two people died after tree branches fell on them.

In the first case, an auto driver in Jayanagar died after a Gulmohar branch fell on him. He was rushed to hospital, but died. In another incident, a 29-year-old died after a branch fell on him, causing fatal head injuries.