Residents intensify protest against tree park in Turahalli forest

Residents of Kanakapura Road clashed with forest officials on Wednesday morning. DH PHOTO/Niranjan Kaggere

Residents of Kanakapura Road, Turahalli and Gubbalala held a protest on Wednesday morning against the state government’s decision to create a 400-acre tree park in the Turahalli Reserve Forest.

Protesting outside the Turahalli forest, they asked the government to immediately stop the excavation work inside the forest area.

A day after spotting earth excavators working along the forest’s periphery, residents took up cudgels asking the forest area to be left alone.

Abdul Aleem, co-founder of Changemakers of Kanakapura Road, said: “There is no point in converting an existing forest into a tree park by planting more trees. All one needs to do is to retain the forest and it will come up on its own.”

Another resident pointed out that a tree park had already been set up in the BDA Layout in 2011, inaugurated by the BJP government led by D V Sadananda Gowda. Over 10,000 tree saplings have been planted there and they have come up well. “The government can further develop the park by providing amenities, but why is it setting its eyes on the reserve forest?”.

Season of forest fires

Gopal A A, Range Forest Officer, Kaggalipura, tried convincing the residents by saying the authorities are not doing any concrete work. “As this is the season of forest fires, we are only working on preparing the fire line and setting up the fence wherever the compound wall is broken,” he said.

“If we don’t have a fire line in place, the fire may take over whatever we have saved all these years. We will convey your sentiments to our higher officials,” he added.

Petition to officials

Residents had collectively petitioned to Additional Chief Secretary Sandeep Dave and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) Sanjai Mohan on Tuesday.

Registering their dissent against the project, the residents held a meeting with Mohan on Wednesday.

Mohan told DH that the meeting was inconclusive, although officials have assured the residents that their demands and views are sent to the state government for consideration. But he clarified that the tree park would only come up in the periphery.

“Residents were angered that the project would be similar to that of horticulture parks where manicured lawns and ornamental plants come up. We tried to explain to them about tree parks by giving examples from other districts,” Mohan said.

He said the park will only be a buffer along the forest’s periphery so that its boundary is retained and no damage is done to its core from encroachment or other threats.

“Our Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) will also talk to the local citizens and thereafter, we will go by the government decision,” Mohan said.