Dear Chief Minister,

The KRDCL is removing TREES during pandemic scare, WHY? 

We are struggling with essentials.. Why are they in a hurry to chop trees? 

Is this an essential activity? 

Is this an emergency requirement? 

This is our living HERITAGE being destroyed!

The Tree Act hearing in the High Court has made KRDCL a respondent, with regard to the Bangalore Surrounding Roads project! 

The hearing is pending, and the KRDCL ought to cease all activities till the Honourable High Court hears the case.

But while the matter is sub-judice, the KRDCL contractors have started removing trees! 

Even trees that were not marked in the survey are vanishing!

They claim it is for transplantation.  But it is anybody's guess where these trees are going.  From previous experience, the survival rate of transplanted trees is negligible. 

Since the project is not even legal, this should not have started even.  First of all the project needs justification and consideration of alternatives. 

Also, the contractors for removing trees are appointed by the KRDCL, which is illegal.  Only the Forest Dept is authorised to appoint contractors for this purpose.  This needs investigation!

No trees should be touched now.

• THIS PROJECT IS NOT PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY PLAN, WHICH IS PART OF A LEGALLY PRODUCED CITY MASTER PLAN!
• THIS PROJECT HAS NOT HAD MANDATORY PUBLIC CONSULTATION
• THIS PROJECT HAS NOT HAD MANDATORY ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT
• ALTERNATIVES HAVE NOT BEEN CONSIDERED!

You are violating the trust reposed in your Government.  You are violating the laws!

Pull up your socks!

Reminding you,

Citizens! 

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POINT BLANK feature on this tragedy in the Deccan Herald dated 1st August 2020:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/120vdgPmzh-5UvRtZHlwccXVBbqP3nxCH/view?usp=sharing  

41,500 trees and counting!  Loss of over 33,000 trees to the Peripheral Ring Road project and another 8,500 to a controversial road-widening project on the outskirts has citizens and environmentalists stunned, even as a dark cloud rises over the city’s green future. https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/point-blank/development-vs-environment-over-41500-trees-to-go-for-road-projects-868190.html

Projects that ignore sustainability concerns violate citizens’ rights https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/point-blank/projects-that-ignore-sustainability-concerns-violate-citizens-rights-868191.html