Knights out to protect trees!

Bengaluru: Rain, sun and crude remarks from a Government Veterinary Hospital employee did not deter members of the citizen forum, Knights for Queens, as they gathered to protest against felling of trees at the Government Veterinary Hospital on Queen’s road.

This is the third public protest and the last was a candle-light vigil. However, this time, they were not alone. Artists, poets, musicians and photographers came together to save sprawling trees on the campus and capture the beauty of the premises.

“We are using what comes naturally to us to raise our voices together for saving Mother Nature. Most of my art is inspired by nature and how could I just be quiet and let it all slip away,” asked Bakula Nayak, a popular city artist. Ms Swathi Krishnaswamy, who recited poem, agreed. “Art, music and poetry all connect on an emotional level and at this time, we need to tap into that passion. Saying save trees is not enough.”With massive brown trunks and sprawling canopies, some of these trees are more than a century old and the campus also houses central Bengaluru’s only operational Animal Birth Control centre. After the trees are cut and the ABC centre thrown out, the authorities plan to build a super-specialty veterinary hospital in its place without considering the consequences, say protesters. “What are they even thinking,” questions Sukanya Sinha, one of the protesters. “I have lived in this city for 20 years. It’s getting hotter by the day and now they want to raze the only green patch that we have in this part of the concrete jungle?”

Ms Priya Chetty Rajgopal, who has spearheaded the cause, said that they would look forward to finding a solution to the issue by working with the Animal husbandry Department. “We would like an inclusive plan, with trees intact with the ABC staying put. If they would like help with the inclusive design for the building, architects like Naresh Narasimhan have also agreed to come on board.”