Bellandur residents protest tree felling

After 24 trees were chopped along Outer Ring Road

By NIRMALA G

May 9 is being observed as a Black Day by the residents of Bellandur. On this day, certain uncouth people who wanted to clear away trees that obstructed their hoardings on Outer Ring Road went on a tree cutting spree along the Bellandur Service Road. At the end of it, 24 flowering trees were felled. Protesting this brutal massacre, the residents teamed up to protest on May 19.

The 90-minute protest near Iblur Lake on Bellandur Service Road saw a peaceful gathering of concerned residents from not just Bellandur but across the city. It was a clear signal that the public would not tolerate such an incident anywhere in the city.

More than 200 residents lined up on the streets to spread awareness about the massacre and send a warning sign to the offenders. The event was attended by tree lovers from Bellandur, Iblur, Suncity Apartments, HSR Layout, Whitefield, Cox Town, Hebbal and JP Nagar. The highlight of the protest was not just that. Those who protested included senior citizens, the specially-abled and a large number of children, making this everyone’s issue.

Tree doctor Vijay Nishanth was the man of the hour. He advises residents on saving the trees and preventing repeat occurrences every time such incidents occur anywhere in the city. “This is the fourth case in a series,” he says. “And they are all linked to commercial interests who want to increase the visibility of their hoardings. The cases are before the Lok Ayukta.” A police complaint and an FIR has been filed in this case on May 16.

The greater tragedy of this incident is that the residents of Iblur and Green Glen Layout were proactively planting and nurturing trees with a conscious attempt to increase the tree cover. Their regular plantation drives came to a grinding halt with this overnight destruction. Some of the trees that are no more include Pongamia, Pride of India and Tabebuea.

The flex was brought down on May 14 by the BBMP Forest Department though the structure remained. On May 18, a Sobha builder hoarding went up on the same structure, angering the residents yet again.

But the residents have far from given up.

“We are monitoring the health of the stumps and applying fungicide regularly under Vijay Nishant’s instruction and hope the existing trees still have a chance,” says Bellandur resident Odette Katrak.