Bengaluru: “I have been taught to grow trees, not chop them. Why are you cutting down so many trees?”
This was 12-year-old Riya Roy’s poser to Bangalore Metro Rail Cooperation Limited (BMRCL) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials during a public consultation meeting held at Jayanagar Fire Station on Friday.
About 608 trees will be cut for Namma Metro Phase II line from Bannerghatta Road to Nagawara, covering a distance of 13km. Over 100 citizens, including residents, environmentalists and social activists, participated in the public consultation over the fate of the trees.
Pressed for an answer by Riya, a student of Bethany School, MK Cholarajappa, deputy conservator of forests, BBMP, was at loss of words. “It is important to save trees and we are trying to do that. But it is not in my hands as decisions are taken by the superiors,” the officer said.