<p>Bengaluru: Environmentalists are seeing red over the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) public notice about the proposed felling of 368 trees in the Bengaluru Cantonment Railways Colony, opposite the railway station.</p><p>This area in Vasanthnagar connects key roads in the city, serving as a major junction.</p>.Experts urge forest dept to hold tree fest to educate people on growing the right species.<p>The BBMP's forest division issued the notice on April 25, announcing that the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) had submitted an application to remove the trees, having leased the land to Bagmane Texworth Pvt Ltd for commercial development. The funds generated from this project will be used for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). Objections have been sought from the public.</p><p>Alexander James, an environmentalist, said, “This is like a mini forest. About four or five of us planted many of these trees around 15 years ago, and now they are fully grown. They want to destroy this for a commercial complex. There is plenty of space behind the railway station for the authorities to use; they know better places. We are just asking them not to cut these precious trees.”</p><p>Many of the trees listed in the proposal include paper trees, mango and other fruit-bearing trees, rain trees, eucalyptus, and Tabebuia Rosea (rosy trumpet flower) trees.</p><p>Joseph Hoover, president of the United Conservation Movement and former member of the State Board for Wildlife, noted that a petition had been started by Heritage Beku on Change.org, urging authorities to reconsider the decision. “There has to be a public consultation if more than 50 trees are to be cut, with a minimum of three weeks’ notice given for objections. This is destruction in the name of development,” he said.</p><p>AN Yellappa Reddy, renowned environmentalist and former secretary of the Department of Ecology and Environment, criticised the plan, calling it a blatant disregard for public welfare. “Heat islands are forming in the city. Authorities claim they will plant new trees elsewhere, but those will take decades to grow to the size of these trees. There is no sense to this plan,” he said. However, he welcomed the BBMP's move to invite public objections, saying he was “glad” they were “at least seeking public opinion”.</p><p>Plan may be on hold</p><p>BLG Swamy, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), BBMP Forest Division, hinted at the possibility of the plan being shelved.</p><p>“We will scrutinise all objections that come in until May 6, which is the deadline, and then take a decision. Many of them so far have been similar. We are planning a public consultation before May 15, with environmentalists and railway authorities, where the public is welcome to suggest alternative solutions for the development work. Railway land in Devanahalli and three other locations are also being considered,” he said.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Environmentalists are seeing red over the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) public notice about the proposed felling of 368 trees in the Bengaluru Cantonment Railways Colony, opposite the railway station.</p><p>This area in Vasanthnagar connects key roads in the city, serving as a major junction.</p>.Experts urge forest dept to hold tree fest to educate people on growing the right species.<p>The BBMP's forest division issued the notice on April 25, announcing that the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) had submitted an application to remove the trees, having leased the land to Bagmane Texworth Pvt Ltd for commercial development. The funds generated from this project will be used for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). Objections have been sought from the public.</p><p>Alexander James, an environmentalist, said, “This is like a mini forest. About four or five of us planted many of these trees around 15 years ago, and now they are fully grown. They want to destroy this for a commercial complex. There is plenty of space behind the railway station for the authorities to use; they know better places. We are just asking them not to cut these precious trees.”</p><p>Many of the trees listed in the proposal include paper trees, mango and other fruit-bearing trees, rain trees, eucalyptus, and Tabebuia Rosea (rosy trumpet flower) trees.</p><p>Joseph Hoover, president of the United Conservation Movement and former member of the State Board for Wildlife, noted that a petition had been started by Heritage Beku on Change.org, urging authorities to reconsider the decision. “There has to be a public consultation if more than 50 trees are to be cut, with a minimum of three weeks’ notice given for objections. This is destruction in the name of development,” he said.</p><p>AN Yellappa Reddy, renowned environmentalist and former secretary of the Department of Ecology and Environment, criticised the plan, calling it a blatant disregard for public welfare. “Heat islands are forming in the city. Authorities claim they will plant new trees elsewhere, but those will take decades to grow to the size of these trees. There is no sense to this plan,” he said. However, he welcomed the BBMP's move to invite public objections, saying he was “glad” they were “at least seeking public opinion”.</p><p>Plan may be on hold</p><p>BLG Swamy, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), BBMP Forest Division, hinted at the possibility of the plan being shelved.</p><p>“We will scrutinise all objections that come in until May 6, which is the deadline, and then take a decision. Many of them so far have been similar. We are planning a public consultation before May 15, with environmentalists and railway authorities, where the public is welcome to suggest alternative solutions for the development work. Railway land in Devanahalli and three other locations are also being considered,” he said.</p>