Bengalureans protest axing of trees for Metro Airport line
NGO Growthwatch organises protest near Agara Lake, says nearly 5,000 trees will be lost to Bengaluru Airport Metro line
BENGALURU:
To mark the UN’s declaration in October this year on ‘Safe, Clean, Healthy Environment is a Human Right’ as well as to mark Humans Rights Day (December 10), Growthwatch, a Karnataka-based NGO, organised a citizens’ protest on Saturday, December 11, near the Agara Lake Children’s Statue traffic island against the rampant felling of trees.
And so it begins. #WeStandBecauseTheyDo Celebrate UN’s recognition of environment as a basic human right and Int. Human Rights Day (y’day) by celebrating our standing trees! Great demographic here. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/UcUqt0K8dd
— Growthwatch (@GrowthWatch) December 11, 2021
According to the organisers, under Package 1 of the Metro Airport Line Phase 2A, 800 trees between Central Silk Board and Kodibeesanahalli are likely to be axed. This includes huge rain trees and gulmohar trees with large canopies. At Agara Lake, 29 trees have been marked for felling.
Trees should not and must not be a luxury. But hastily executed infra projects that are done without adequate public consultation are quickly turning tree cover into the privilege of a few. #WeStandBecauseTheyDo pic.twitter.com/Y294FLtGSz
— Growthwatch (@GrowthWatch) December 11, 2021
According to Growthwatch, it has been writing to BMRCL and the Forest Department since Lockdown 2.0 over the need for public consultation in the matter. According to the organisation, around 4,777 trees will be axed for the Airport Line.
‘Allow citizens to check’
Growthwatch has been asking, among other things, for a citizens’ walk-through on alignment, station location and design along with information on the environmental and social Impact on citizens in the vicinity, It has also sought Information on compensatory plantation and transplantation, and wants locals involved in these activities.
What you can do:
— Growthwatch (@GrowthWatch) December 11, 2021
Save trees from Silk Board to Iblur: https://t.co/LpqO4SFYm9
On Bangalore Surrounding Roads: https://t.co/j1k8gJmayb#WeStandBecauseTheyDo@Jhatkaadotorg pic.twitter.com/kkstUsRWXr
Citizens who wish to see the details of the trees which will be axed in the first lot can click on https://bit.ly/3IvW7NO, while details from 2020 until now can be seen on https://bit.ly/3rMyj2f
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