BENGALURUL: Large trees located on the 12th and 13th Main Road Indiranagar were axed ostensibly to clear the storm water drains, which used to get clogged during rains, leading to water logging in nearby areas.
The tree cutting drive was reportedly carried out on the request of residents who had recently held a meeting with Local Corporator of Jeevan Bhima Nagar Veena Kumari. The roots of these trees had penetrated deep into the drains and blocking the water flow.
"This demand was pending for a long time. The drains got increasingly clogged over the years and the roots grew deep into the drains. This caused flooding on to the road and even nearby apartments as well. We raised the issue with the Corporator and it is finally being addressed," said Chitra, member of Resident Welfare Association.
She pointed out that the trees were large African Tulips and should be replaced with smaller avenue trees, she added.
However, some residents within the same locality felt that axing of trees was totally unnecessary and will not help unclogging the drains.
They alleged the axing was done because some house and apartment owners had exerted pressure on civic authorities, as they were feeling inconvenienced because they had to regularly clear dry leaves on the ground and the occasional falling of branches.
Some residents lamented that the ecological damage caused by axing of trees could not be reversed, as such trees take years to grow. When Deccan Chronicle contacted Corproator Veena Kumari, she said, "The residents approached us to undertake drain desilting and up gradation as it has been ignored for several years. These trees were planted three decades ago by BDA. Their roots grew into the drain and branches kept falling as well, causing clogging of drains."
"We received permission from Assistant Conservator of Forests and axed a tree last week and two more were axed on Tuesday, including one in front of Graphite Apartments that gets waterlogged during the rainy season. The removal of the roots is taking time as they are very strong. A JCB will be used for the purpose," she said. New trees will be planted after the works are over, she added.
