Ever since the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) publicly announced their intention to cut 112 trees for the widening of Jayamahal Road, the mobile phones of civic officials have been ringing almost non-stop.
As the 10-day window to file objections ended on Thursday, officials from the Forest Cell said that they received more than 850 objections through e-mail. While many of the objections follow the pattern laid down by activists and organisations who have raised a clarion call against the felling of trees, BBMP officials said they have received calls from as far away as Dubai in the UAE and England.
“We will go through each objection and prepare a report,” said Shantakumar, Assistant Commissioner of Forest (BBMP), who is also the tree officer.
The BBMP maintains that felling of trees is necessary to widen the busy road to six lanes. The project was conceived five years ago. However, activists and others who have raised objections expressed fear that the project is a furtive method to pave the way for construction of the controversial steel flyover, which would claim more than 800 trees.
Signature campaigns
After hundreds of people formed a human chain, stretching from Fun World Signal to Mehkri Circle on Jayamahal Road on February 11, some of the participants submitted petitions to the BBMP’s Tree Officers on Thursday. Signature campaigns were run in Jayamahal, Malleswaram and other areas close to the road. Since the window for objections was opened, nearly 1,200 signatures have been collected and several petitions submitted.
The petitioners objected to the ‘greed and poor planning’. They added that the 112 trees would have removed 3.8 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide a year from the city’s increasingly polluted air. At the same time, they would have cumulatively produced oxygen for more than 1.63 lakh days through their lifetime.
Srinivas Alavilli, the co-ordinator of Citizens of Bengaluru, which is spearheading the protests, said, “It is gratifying to see local people come out and support. I hope authorities take serious note of our protest."
Salient Points
BBMP to cut 112 trees on Jayamahal Road
To widen road between Fun World junction and Mehkri Circle
Window for objections: February 7 to 16
Written objections received: 850+
Signature campaign: 1,200 persons
