Please leave your axe outside
Bangalore Environment Trust
Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony
There is public cynicism due to apathy on the part of officials. Regular public consultations for projects involving the removal of trees will restore some faith and will also lead to better participation
—Dattatreya Devare, Bangalore Environment Trust
Going forward, the Forest Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will hold public consultation meetings for every development project in the city that requires felling of more than 50 trees.The decision has been taken after an overwhelming number of objections raised by Bengalureans in response to BBMP's recent public notice on a proposal to cut more than 350 trees on the Cantonment Railway Colony campus by the Ministry of Railways for a commercial project.According to BLG Swamy, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BBMP, the only criterion for holding public consultations will be objections filed by citizens.'Here on, we will have public consultation for every project that requires cutting down more than 50 trees and has received a considerable number of objections from the public. User agencies will have to justify the removal of trees to the citizens,' said Swamy.City-based tree activists have welcomed the move. However, they say public consultations should be held for projects even in the city's outskirts. 'Number of objections' should not be the criterion.'While it is a step forward, it should not be limited to projects that receive public attention due to various factors. Moreover, there is public cynicism due to apathy on the part of officials. Regular public consultations for projects involving the removal of trees will restore some faith and will also lead to better participation,' said Dattatreya Devare, trustee ofThe public notice published by the Palike on April 25 regarding the removal of 368 trees for a 'commercial development project' atcampus has perturbed hundreds of citizens and tree activists.'We are flooded with objections from citizens against the project. Officials from the Forest Department have tried to understand the nature of the project, but the user agency has been secretive so far,' said a BBMP official.Citizens, through objections sent to BBMP, say that while they acknowledge the importance of development, the environmental cost of cutting down mature, fully-grown trees cannot be understated.They have underlined that Bengaluru already faces severe air pollution and environmental degradation. The removal of 388 trees will only worsen the city's climate resilience and exacerbate pollution levels, further degrading the quality of life for residents.'Mature trees play a critical role in the urban ecosystem. They mitigate air pollution, reduce urban heat island effects, and provide critical habitats for birds, insects, and other wildlife.The trees in question are likely to be old-growth species that have provided a habitat for local biodiversity for decades. These trees contribute to maintaining ecological balance, and any removal will disrupt this balance, endangering local wildlife,' said one of the citizens' objections.In response to the notice, citizens also said that cutting down mature trees is directly at odds with the sustainability goals of the ongoing climate crisis. Instead of removing these trees, the focus should be on developing the project in a manner that coexists with nature.According to Vijay Nishant, founder of Project Vruksha and a member of the Bengaluru Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), the trees that have been proposed to be felled are heritage trees and should not be felled at any cost.'Bengaluru is already witnessing a sizzling summer and urban heat island effect. The trees proposed to be felled are heritage trees that are also a testament to Bengaluru's rich natural heritage and history. If removed, the loss will be irreparable. This is an example of a project that should not be considered by the Tree Expert Committee,' said Nishant.City-based tree activists and citizens have thus urged BBMP to explore alternatives that would allow for development without compromising Bengaluru's environmental health.'We request that this notice be reviewed with the environmental implications in mind, and that any action that might lead to the destruction of these trees be halted immediately.Citizens' concerns must be taken into account before any final decisions are made. We are more than willing to engage in further discussions or explore alternative solutions that protect the environment while meeting development goals,' noted another objection filed by a citizen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Deadline for Karnataka SC survey extended to June 22 due to poor response in Bengaluru
Due to a lack of strong participation within Bengaluru city limits for the ongoing survey of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in Karnataka, the government has extended the survey deadline to June 22. This is the third extension granted since the survey was launched on May 5. The purpose of the survey is to determine the exact population numbers of 101 castes classified under the Scheduled Caste category in the state, which will then be used to provide internal reservations for these communities. Compared to other districts in Karnataka, where nearly 100 per cent of the SC population was surveyed, only 46 per cent of the SC population in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits participated in the survey, according to details shared by the one-man commission under Justice Nagamohan Das. The estimated SC population in Karnataka for 2025 is approximately 1.16 crore, which constitutes about 12 per cent of the total community population. In Bengaluru alone, there are around 13.62 lakh SC people. However, only 6.29 lakh of them participated in the survey, Across the entire state, there is a 90 per cent progress in the survey, as 1.05 crore of the 1.16 crore people from the SC community have taken part in the survey, according to the commission. While May 19 was set as the last date for the door-to-door survey when it was launched on May 5, it was extended till the end of May due to poor response in urban areas. Due to this, several groups from SC communities petitioned the commission to extend the last date of the survey further. The commission is facing another problem as the teachers roped in to carry out the exercise were relieved after the academic year began in the first week of June. Until June 22, SC families can register themselves at Scheduled Caste Survey Karntaka Website or visit Karnataka One, Bengaluru One, or BBMP ward offices to enrol in the exercise. The survey is being carried out based on the recommendations of the one-man panel, which found that there is no empirical data on the population of various castes within SC communities, without which internal reservation cannot be provided. The SCs are classified into four categories in the state: SC left, SC right, touchable communities and others.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
For the record: Name change plaint reaches Lokayukta
Karnataka Lokayukta Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike land khata certificate I waited over two years; officials did nothing despite verbal assurances, forcing me to approach the Lokayukta for action –Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar A complaint has been registered withagainst the then(BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath for dereliction of duty. The Lokayukta registered the complaint against the BBMP Commissioner on complaint was filed by Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, a resident of Sobha Arena Apartment in Judicial Layout, Thalaghattapura. He alleged that despite purchasing a flat in VS Cozy Apartment and executing the sale deed on August 29, 2009, the land records still reflect the name of the previous landowner. The sale deed granted him ownership of 345 sq ft, but even after 15 years, his name has not been entered in the land to Dhananjaya, he applied for theand khata extract from BBMP on March 16, 2023. The documents he received did not reflect his following day, on March 17, 2023, he submitted a complaint to the BBMP Commissioner, requesting a probe and corrective action. However, he claimed no action was taken despite repeated follow-ups.'I have waited for over two years, visiting the BBMP head office multiple times,' said Dhananjaya. 'The officials kept making verbal assurances but did nothing. This forced me to approach the Lokayukta.'In his formal complaint, Dhananjaya alleged not just negligence but also corruption. He argued that the failure to update the land khata to reflect individual flat owners' names deprived them of their legal land rights. Dhananjaya, who is also the Sanchalak of the Karnataka Home Buyers' Forum, said the issue is widespread and reflects systemic apathy towards apartment the need to include flat owners' names in land records, Naval veteran Commander Surendra said the BBMP must take proactive measures. 'Authorities have a duty to update records in accordance with ownership,' he said. 'This is not merely a procedural formality it directly impacts legal rights.'Adding a broader perspective to the issue, Ameya Usgaonkar, another apartment owner, highlighted flaws in the registration process. He explained that ownership typically begins with the sale of the undivided interest (UDI) in the project land. This is recorded through the registration of the Agreement for Sale (AFS), which is the first legal step and includes project details, timelines, and builder commitments.'The sale deed comes later and confirms the apartment transfer,' he said. 'If the AFS isn't registered, there's no legal provision under the Registration Act to reflect UDI in the final sale deed.'He pointed out that many builders bypass the AFS registration, retaining ownership of the land in official records. 'This loophole enables builders to maintain control and delays proper transfer of ownership to buyers,' he said. 'I believe the BBMP should coordinate with the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) to enforce AFS checks before granting Occupancy Certificates (OCs). If AFS isn't in place, subsequent apartment sales should not be permitted.'The Lokayukta is expected to investigate the matter and determine whether administrative failure or deliberate oversight is at play. For now, the complaint reflects growing frustration among Bengaluru's apartment owners who feel stranded in legal limbo despite following due process.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru MP urges Centre to intervene in Railway infrastructure delays
BENGALURU: Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan has urged Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways, V Somanna, to intervene in several critical railway infrastructure issues affecting Bengaluru. During a preliminary review meeting on the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) held on Saturday, Mohan highlighted that delays by civic bodies and a lack of inter-agency coordination continue to hamper progress. One of the major concerns raised was the stalled Carmelaram Road Over Bridge (ROB), which remains just 35% complete due to delays in land acquisition by BBMP. The incomplete project has led to the closure of the Carmelaram–Gunjur Road, causing severe inconvenience. Mohan also pointed to the underutilisation of the Panathur Road Underbridge (RUB), which, remains non-operational due to pending approach road. He proposed introducing a new superfast train between Bengaluru and Mumbai, noting that existing options like the Udyan Express take over 21 hours.
