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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.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
360 trees facing axe for railway commercial project near Bengaluru Cantonment station
However, the move has sparked concerns among local residents and environmentalists who fear that large-scale tree loss will further deplete Bengaluru 's already dwindling green cover. The RLDA, a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways, plans to develop a commercial project on an 8.61-acre land parcel at the Cantonment Railway Colony, strategically located between Cantonment Road and Thimmaiah Road. The project, with a reserve price of Rs 236 crore for a 60-year lease, aims to boost Bengaluru's economy by providing residential apartments and commercial complexes. A separate one-acre parcel is designated for railway colony redevelopment. To facilitate this development, the RLDA has sought permission to remove 368 trees, many of which are heritage species like Peepal, Rubber, and Christmas trees, some over 100 years old. These trees are spread across a large area within the colony premises. In fact, environmentalists are also planning to launch a campaign, 'Save Cantonment Heritage Trees', opposing the felling of these trees. 'Citizens will be encouraged and appealed to lodge their protests by writing to dcfbbmp12@ the email account of the BBMP Forest Wing Chief, and to rldabangalore2022@ the official email account of the Railway Department,' said environment activist Vijay Nishant. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Dugar, convener for Citizens4Citizens forum, suggested that RLDA integrate the greenery into the design plan of the structure. 'I recommended that RLDA incorporate the existing greenery into the design plan of the commercial structure, instead of axing the decades-old trees. Working around the tree will add more value environmentally, similar to the design of Kempegowda International Airport's Terminal 2,' he said. He added, 'RLDA had already damaged saplings planted in 2021, as part of the preparatory work for the commercial structure. We had planted 2,365 saplings of 100 different species in a dense forest format inside the present railway colony. However, most of these saplings now stand damaged overnight for the preparatory work of the commercial building.'
