After many citizen protests, BBMP agrees to save some trees

By Chandrima Mazumdar

2021 has brought good news for the environment activists and enthusiasts as Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has agreed to save all the trees along the Whitefield roads. The tweet by Namma Whitefield’s page termed the move as a win for the environment, and thanked the BBMP and MLA Arvind Limbavali for the gesture.

Other clauses by the BBMP

Following many citizen protests against the reckless cutting of trees along the city roads, the BBMP (major roads) engineer Ramakrishna Reddy held a meeting with the residents. He assured the people that all the trees and saplings would be saved. Instead of the concrete drain as decided earlier, the road would be terminated with a concrete shoulder, and the water will be allowed to drain into a natural drain which will also irrigate the soil bed for the trees. The citizens complained in writing to the commissioner, chief engineer and executive engineer. Now, the existing drain on the opposite side of the road will be reinforced with concrete walls, while allowing water infiltration into the ground, with percolation pits at regular intervals.

All the trees along the GR Tech Park Road would also be saved, along with the construction of a seven-metre road and a 4.5-metre footpath pavement, equipped with porous tree pits of 1m x 1m around every tree. To make the GR tech Park, a greener road, fresh saplings would be planted in patches where there are no trees.

The citizens were also advised to submit a written letter to the Traffic Cell for finalising the construction of speed breakers on the roads, which was another one of their demands.

The history of protests

In the name of developmental works, a large number of trees were axed in and around Bengaluru. Citizens have been raising their voices against the practice, and asking for alternative ways where few or no trees are cut.

Athashri Road in Whitefield witnessed one such protest where the residents raised their voice to save the trees. The campaign also took place on the social media platforms and went on until BBMP gave in to their demand, saving more then 40 trees in a one-and-half kilometre stretch.  

Another similar incident happened on HAL Road, where it was finally decided, after much deliberation with citizens, that only the old and weak trees will be felled.

Currently, BBMP is working on another petition by the residents of Sony World Junction in Koramangala. The civic body has assured that the interests of the citizens will be foremost on their minds before they embark on any project.