The government has cut down trees in the name of development. According to a recent report, from March 2023 to June 2026, a total of 19 projects for infrastructure projects and private construction works in the city of Bengaluru.,268 trees were felled. The Greater Bangalore Authority released this figure. Metro‘ Construction of new railway line, Besides government development projects like road widening and construction of flyovers, private sector residential construction has had a huge negative impact on the city’s green cover.
According to the Greater Bangalore Authority, 7 only for various public infrastructure projects during this period,683 trees have been cut. On the other hand, Private property owners are also 7 in their premises in view of the abnormal rise in house and land prices.,902 trees were felled. In addition, Dr, 2 at the same time for being in a dangerous condition or for interfering with private construction,468 trees were removed. In 2025-26, municipal authorities will voluntarily,215 trees were felled. Authorities recently arrested another,092 trees have been felled and work is expected to start soon.
Senior officials of the Greater Bangalore Authority’s forest department said, irresponsible felling of trees should not be done., To ensure this, many cases were referred to tree expert committees. Authorities try to preserve trees in their original locations or relocate them wherever possible and are cautious in allowing felling of trees, an official told reporters. The green cover of the city should not be completely destroyed, The authority plants about 100,000 trees every year. Last month, the Bengaluru Municipal Authority announced a massive program to plant 1.5 million trees across the city in a single day.
Environmental experts refuted the arguments of the government authorities and urged the government to think deeply before allowing the felling of trees. According to them, Newly planted seedlings can never make up for the lack of mature trees. Dattatreya Devare, a trustee of Bengaluru Environment Trust, cautioned the government citing the example of constructing a government office in an open space on Infantry Road.‘is recommended to be Open spaces and green cover in the middle of the city were part of the city’s master plan, he said, adding that compensatory afforestation would be mandatory.‘There is considerable doubt about the survival of the seedlings planted under this program. Devarai lamented that the main objective of cutting trees from the city center and planting saplings in remote areas will never be achieved.
Environmentalist Vijay Nishant said many roadside trees are cut without permission and there is no monitoring of such incidents. He said that planted saplings are not monitored in future and stressed the need for a digital database to map all trees and saplings. Currently, the conflict between development and environmental protection continues in the city and while the authorities are preparing to cut down new trees, experts and environmentalists say that the actual number of trees felled is much higher.‘They demanded a transparent and accountable system.
