Bengaluru: Tree activists and urban conservationists claimed that trees on the stretch from Basava Circle to Hebbal were being numbered, though the actual reason is not yet known. The tree committee and forest cell in BBMP too are clueless.
Conservationists added that there is no clarity as to why the trees are being marked. They wonder whether they will be axed for road widening or the proposed steel flyover.
Tree doctor Vijay Nishanth, who carried out counting of trees, explained in a video that they have no clarity as to why the trees were marked. Some of the trees are marked with yellow paint while a few others located next to them have been left unmarked.
Nishanth also mentioned that they are taking count of the yellow marked trees and will prepare a detailed report and make it public. For now, around 140 trees have been marked, he added.
BBMP forest cell officials claimed they have no clue about the marking of the trees. An officer on condition of anonymity said, “The marking was not done by BBMP, but by the BDA and we were not informed about it. Whoever wants to cut a tree should submit a letter to the forest cell, but in this case no letter was submitted. We will also conduct a public hearing with the Tree Authority and tree committee members before chopping a tree and that too was not conducted.”
The officer further added that there is no information available with the BBMP about marking of the trees. “We should check with the BDA as to why they have marked
the trees.
But as per the High Court orders, we cannot allow them to cut trees without public hearing. We have brought the matter to the notice of the senior officers, who will check with the BDA to get further information,” he added.
When tried contacting the BDA officers, but they were not willing to comment.
