BBMP to protect trees against ad, cable mafia

Bengaluru: Going green, the BBMP  has begun a drive to remove  advertisements and flexes nailed to trees and lights and optic fibre cables strung on them and plans to take strict legal action against those responsible, co-ordinating with the city police to register cases.   A senior BBMP officer says an intense drive is being carried out after  Deputy Chief Minister, Dr G Parameshwar met senior officers of various departments and discussed the protection of trees among other issues.

“He ordered the civic agencies and  the traffic police to remove the fibre cables, flexes and advertisement boards from trees and ensure they are not harmed.  The drive was taken up on his direction and will continue,” he said, adding that cases would be filed against the offenders under appropriate IPC sections with the help of  the police department. “We have not yet discussed this with them as yet , but will soon meet the top police officers to take this forward. We will ensure that no one drills even a nail into the trees in future,” the officer asserted.

The BBMP has requested the people to take active part in the drive and inform it about those trying to use  trees for advertisements or stringing cables. “It is only when the public and officials work together, can we stop such practices. We will ensure that the moment a complain is received,  action is taken and a police case registered,”  the official assured.

In the past the BBMP had issued a circular asking the private companies to remove the cables and flexes from trees, but received  no response, according to an  official of its forest cell. Welcoming the BBMP’s drive, Tree Doctor,  Vijay Nishanth also urged people to actively participate in it. Interestingly, a citizen group of MG  Road has already joined hands with conservationists to remove  cables from trees that have not only become life threatening for pedestrians but are also stunting their growth in the area.