Wide roads vs more trees root of the matter

BBMP’s ambitious road widening project has hit a major hurdle. Environmentalists have objected to the fact that 552 trees will have to be chopped down to make way for wider roads, which the city sorely lacks. Are Bangaloreans asking for too much??Experts term the Palike’s move ‘reactionary’ and believe that felling trees will cause many more problems than it will solve. Chandrashekar G. and Bellie Thomas report.

The ambitious road widening project of the BBMP has hit several roadblocks over the years with people whose properties are to be acquired opposing it strongly. In all,  216 roads are to be widened under the BBMP’s Revised Master Plan (RMP) 2015 through issue of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to those who will lose their  properties.

With opposition growing to its plans, the agency seemed to give up on them for a while. 

But the recent public notice issued by its forest wing inviting objections to the cutting of 552 trees for road widening, building of flyovers and other amenities, showed it is still intent on the project.

This time besides property owners the civic agency has upset environmentalists who are afraid it is turning the city into a concrete jungle by mowing down an increasing number of trees with every  passing year in the name of  development.

Arguing that mere road widening cannot solve the city’s traffic troubles, trustee of the Environment Support Group (ESG), Leo F Saldanha, accuses the BBMP of ignoring guidelines laid down by the high court and of being hell bent on destroying Bangalore's environment . 

“Widening of roads is not the way to de-congest  Bangalore. It can only result in environmental destruction and displacement of communities.It is a reactionary approach that is meant to stop the urban population from demanding  affordable and better public transport and encourages highly polluting and fossil fuel intensive private modes of travel,” he asserts.

Moreover, with the public opposing TDR, the BBMP will have to shell out not less than Rs 40,000 crore to widen all the roads, say the angry environmentalists, demanding that more thought should be given to decongesting Bangalore. The easy way out is not always the best, they warn.

Old trees reduce pollution, indispensable

Environmentalists opposing the BBMP’s latest proposal to axe  552 trees, note that other than saying they are old and small, its notices give no other information about them.

The fact that  a large number of  trees lined up for axing are old only makes their loss bigger as they play a huge role in carbon sequestration, containment of dust, pollution and as heat sinks especially in a highly polluted city like Bangalore, they say.

Finding the BBMP's approach to the issue both  lacking in seriousness and callous, they accuse it of showing little regard for the real heritage of Bangalore, its avenue trees, by proposing to cut them for merely adding to the many flyovers and underpasses the city already has.

They also argue the BBMP is at fault legally speaking as well as its latest proposal does not clearly justify the need for road widening as required under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.  Moreover,  the BBMP’s tree officer does not have the authority to approve mass felling of trees, they contend.

“Any action taken in variance of the directions of  the High Court will be in contempt,” they maintain, warning that they will be driven to taking legal action to halt the cutting of the trees if the BBMP does not give up the idea.

infrastructure good, but not at the cost of trees

Leo F. Saldanha

The city saw massive tree felling  between  2007 and 2011 to make way for the  Metro Rail and other infrastructure like flyovers and underpasses. 

Other culprits were the apartments  that came up around lakes on land occupied by horticulture farms, requiring the axing of a large number of trees.  

Sadly, all these trees were felled without any scrutiny. The taxpaying public does deserve better roads and infrastructure,  but not at the cost of trees.

What we need are well designed roads and not wider roads.  The poor quality and design of the  roads which have been built using taxpayers’ money over the years, encourages traffic congestion. 

The traffic problem can be better managed if we have good quality roads. For every project to start, there is a due process to justify it.

No government servant can take the law for granted and make decisions.

We have clearly outlined the violations of the law in the present proposal in our representation and we will see them in court if they do not change their mind.

The writer is a trustee, Environmental Support Group