40 years of shade… cut down to dust

Khandre directs forest department to take action against BBMP officials for approving felling of healthy 40-year-old rain tree in Rajarajeshwari Nagar

Acting on a complaint regarding the axing of a 40-year-old rain tree in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has instructed the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) to take appropriate action against Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials for dereliction of duty.

A couple of months ago, nearly 20 residents of Rajarajeshwari Nagar filed a complaint against the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of BBMP for giving permission to remove a 40-year-old rain tree in the area. The residents highlighted that the tree was axed despite being in good health and posing no danger to life or property. The group also approached the Karnataka Forest Minister to apprise him about the issue.

The complainants also urged instructions to be given to the police department to file first information reports (FIRs) in such cases. “Cutting a tree that is no threat to life and property is a crime, and it is important to register FIRs in such cases if we desire to maintain the leftover green cover of the city. Police should start registering cases against this illegal activity. Currently, the majority of such offenders are getting away as the police deny filing a case or transferring the responsibility to the forest department,” said one of the complainants from RR Nagar.

Need for stricter rules against tree-felling

City-based tree activists say the need of the hour is to tighten rules around the felling of trees in the city by amending the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976. As per the Act, the DCF of BBMP can file an FIR in the event of an illegal tree felling.

“The police department should be told to accept complaints on tree felling by the citizens and file FIRs directly. The DCF can’t register formal complaints of every illegal tree felling. This amendment should be made so such incidents can be put under check,” said Dattatraya Devare, trustee of Bangalore Environment Trust.

Cutting a tree that is no threat to life & property is crime. It is important to register FIRs in such cases if we desire to maintain leftover green cover of city ­–Complainant from RR Nagar

While the forest minister has instructed the forest department to take action against the BBMP officials, some experts stated that action should also be taken against other departments concerned. “BBMP’s forest department is a small team and is generally under a lot of pressure from various quarters. In some cases, they are unable to hold firm ground against that pressure. It is difficult for forest department officials to firmly oppose some quarters and resist the pressure. If any punishment is being considered, those who impose the pressure or officials from other departments, such as road transport and projects, should also be booked for dereliction of duty,” added Devare.