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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
BBMP demands clarifications on controversial tree proposal
BBMP RLDA Cantonment trees public consultation The railway should respect people's opinions and look for an alternative location. Even the Forest Minister of Karnataka spoke about the protection of the 368 trees Vijay Nishant, Member, Bengaluru Biodiversity Management Committee Karnataka Forest Minister With mounting objections from citizens and environmentalists,has formally requestedto review its controversial plan to cut 368The Forest Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has asked the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to reconsider its proposed commercial project at Cantonment railway station, which has faced severe public backlash since its announcement. According to BBMP's Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), RLDA has also been asked to furnish a detailed response for every question and query raised by citizens during themeeting held on May 20.'We have asked higher officials of RLDA to reconsider the project, looking at objections raised by the public. Public sentiment is clearly against the proposed project. BBMP has also recorded the proceedings on May 20 and handed it over to RLDA for a detailed response. A general reply to public concerns will not be admissible,' said BLG Swamy, DCF, got to know about the project when BBMP put out a public notice on April 25, stating RLDA's intention to remove 368 trees for commercial development at the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony campus. Following the notice, BBMP was flooded with objections against the RLDA officials informed that the project is to ensure a source of revenue for Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company Limited (K-RIDE). The agency stated that the Bengaluru suburban rail project was approved by the Railway Board with a total cost of Rs 15,767 crore, with a completion period of 6 years. While 20% of this cost is borne by the State government and 20% by the Centre, the remaining 60% is through per RLDA, out of the Railway share of Rs 2,479 crore (20%), Rs 500 crore is through budgetary support and the remaining through the returns of monetisation of land parcels identified in the project tree activists say, after the stormy public consultation held on May 20, RLDA should withdraw the proposal and consider establishing the project at an alternate site.'The railway should respect people's opinions and look for an alternative location. Even the Forest Minister of Karnataka spoke about the protection of the 368 trees proposed to be removed for the project,' said Vijay Nishant, a member of Bengaluru's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC).Notably, after the public outcry,Eshwar Khandre instructed that action be taken for the protection of the 368 trees on the Cantonment Railway Colony campus proposed to be felled for a commercial project.A letter issued from his office also stated that rules will be framed to bring the request of cutting down more than 50 trees to the notice of the Forest Minister, after obtaining the government's permission.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Fall from grace
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Rider dies after branch falls on him in Koramangala Bengaluru's pre-monsoon rain has kept's canopy management teams on their Forest Department says it has received 1,257 complaints of tree and branch management between May 1 and 21. Out of these, little over 400 complaints were for the removal of dry and diseased trees, and around 841 cases were regarding weak and dangling many as 298 of these complaints were from Bengaluru South zone, 189 each from Bengaluru West and East, and 184 complaints from Bommanahalli zones. More than a 100 complaints poured in from the given period, BBMP's control room has received 300 complaints of fallen trees and a little over 1,000 complaints of fallen branches from across the city due to gusty wind and rain.'We have deployed 30 canopy management teams with 8 members in each team. Apart from this, we have 11 rapid response teams to attend to emergencies. We have also hired a couple of earth movers this time to clear the debris faster. The department is well equipped for the upcoming monsoon season,' said BLG Swamy, deputy conservator of forest, avoid tree-fall accidents this year, the Department, a couple of months ago, published a list of officials across all eight zones in the BBMP limit that were to be contacted for the removal of 'dangerous' avenue trees in the city. The idea was to get rid of weak, ailing trees during the summer and avoid mishaps in the large number of complaints, according to the officials, is also due to clarity on contact April 2024 and May 2025, the canopy management teams have attended to nearly 20,000 data shows that complaints of falling trees/branches in Bengaluru are on the April 2020 and March 2021, the team attended to 7,472 cases. It went up to 12,107 between April 2021 and March 2022, followed by 17,948 canopy management cases between April 2023 and March has also increased the number of canopy management teams over the last few years. BBMP had 15 canopy management teams (each with eight members) in 2020, which was expanded to 28 teams at a total cost of Rs 11.7 crore in 2023, followed by 30 teams DCF says, more than rain and gusty wind, it is improper handling of avenue trees by other agencies and BBMP departments that has led to so many green trees crashing.'We received more than 200 complaints from the public about weak and ailing trees and dangling branches in April, which is unusual. These were mostly green trees, but were hollow on the inside. This is mainly because of the mishandling of avenue agencies such as BWSSB and BBMP take up pipe laying or road improvement work, they carry out such work carelessly, leading to root damage. We have sent notices to BWSSB and BBMP engineers in such cases,' added will also soon begin freeing up the critical root zones of avenue trees in the city that have concrete up to their trunk.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru's Cantonment project that may axe 368 trees aims to fund suburban rail
Bengaluru: Amidst a furore over a proposal to cut 368 trees on eight acres of land at Cantonment Railway Colony in the heart of the city for commercial activity, the authorities have said the venture is being taken up to fund the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). A public notice from BBMP on April 25 invited objections to the proposed tree felling, leaving many shocked over the silence that surrounded the envisaged development. Sources in the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) said the commercial activity which is expected to fetch a one-time revenue of Rs 300 crore, is largely driven by financial constraints. With the Railways reportedly not in a position to contribute its 20% share for BSRP, RLDA decided to lease out the Cantonment land and channel 80% of the revenue to fund BSRP, the sources said. Texworth Pvt Ltd in collaboration with Bagmane Developers, has won the bid for using the land for 60 years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hollywood Actress Leaks Weight Loss Trick, Gets Fired! nutritiouslivingtips Learn More Undo A senior RLDA official told TOI, "Railways is leasing out the land for commercial development to meet the needs of Bengaluru city and as permitted under local bylaws. While the bid for the land is finalised, the purpose of the use of the land and what kind of development will take place is yet to be finalised. As Cantonment is a very old area, the development is certain to give rise to jobs and boost the economy of the state and country." BBMP to consider objections Meanwhile, objections are pouring in. BBMP's forest department confirmed that they have received a large number of public objections in the first six days of the 10-day window for responses. The local body's deputy conservator of forests BLG Swamy said, "We have limited clarity on what kind of commercial activity has been planned. However, this is just the first round of consultation, and there is a long way to go. The tree expert committee (TEC) has not yet made recommendations on which trees are to be cut or retained. Public objections will be reviewed, and only after proper govt sanctions, the final number of trees to be felled will be determined." —- box Online petition gets 6k signatures An online petition, 'Halt Butchery of 368 Mature Trees at Cantonment Railway Station for Commercial Development', initiated by citizen group Heritage Beku on gathered 6,876 signatures by Wednesday evening. The petition reads, "An autocratic decision has been made to cut down 368 mature trees on this heritage railway land to facilitate a commercial project. Ignorance and misguided priorities saw us lose the signature arched platform at the railway station. This cannot be our fate yet again. The errant free reign of these development projects must be checked. Railways wants to take full control, utterly disregarding Bengaluru's desperate need for greenery and the citizens' pleas for sustainable development. We cannot stand by as more ecological butchery happens before our eyes." ———- quote My friends and I have fond memories of planting in the Cantonment area a few saplings we got from Cubbon Park and Lalbagh 15 years ago and it is disheartening even to think that these trees are going to be cut. We have been sending our objections to BBMP as doing away with nearly 400 trees is not a joke. The more of us write to the authorities, the greater is the probability that they will reconsider this harmful proposal. These trees are a vital part of Bengaluru's already shrinking green cover. Losing them means accelerating the acute water crisis, worsening air quality and ecological imbalance. We have just about a week to send in our objections and save these trees -Alexander James, Cantonment area resident
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
368 trees, some over 100 years old, in Bengaluru's Cantonment area at risk for railway project: Report
A proposed commercial development project by the Railways in Bengaluru's historic Cantonment area has sparked public outcry after it was revealed that 368 trees, many of them over a century old, are slated to be felled. According to a report by The New Indian Express, the trees include heritage species such as Peepal, Rubber, and Christmas trees, all located within the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony in Vasanth Nagar. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Forest Wing has issued a public notice inviting objections to the project, which has been proposed by the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), under the Ministry of Railways. The application for tree felling was submitted by the RLDA's Joint General Manager(Projects/Expert), seeking clearance to proceed with the plan, the report added. (Also Read: NIA meets family of Bengaluru techie killed in Pahalgam terror attack: Report) BBMP Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), BLG Swamy, said the notice was published last Friday. "Members of the public have 10 days to raise objections, give suggestions, or share feedback about the proposal. Based on the volume and nature of objections, the Forest Wing will communicate with the Railway Department. If the public strongly opposes the tree cutting, we cannot grant permission," Swamy explained, according to the report. In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Karnataka government has appointed Maheshwar Rao M as the new Chief Commissioner of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Currently serving as the Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), Rao will now shoulder the additional responsibility of overseeing the city's civic body, according to a report by the Times of India. Rao steps into the role vacated by Tushar Giri Nath, who has been reassigned as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Urban Development Department. Alongside his new role, Nath will continue to function as the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Administrator of BBMP. These changes come in the wake of Umashankar S R's retirement on April 30, necessitating a shuffle in top urban governance positions. (Also Read: Maheshwar Rao appointed as new chief commissioner of Bengaluru civic body)
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
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 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 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 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 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 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 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' 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 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 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 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.
