SOUTH
Do you remember the Chipko Movement of 1973, when people hugged the trees to stop others from cutting trees down? If yes then you can surely relate to this latest act from the people of Bengaluru. They formed a human chain of nearly 1.5 km from Fun World till Mekhri Circle to protest against the proposal of cutting down 112 trees in order to build the steel flyover.
Human chain at #jayamahal road to protest tree cutting #SteelFlyoverBeda @NishmaDahal @MeghanaNatesh @priya_tamma
— Prachi Thatte (@prachi_th) February 11, 2017
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) apparently has asked for written or oral objections against the proposal of cutting down these trees. Thus the protestors proved yet again that they are not going to bear if trees in Jayamahal Road are cut down.
People protesting tree cutting #jayamahal Road @prachi_th @priya_tamma @NishmaDahal
— meghana natesh (@MeghanaNatesh) February 11, 2017
“Cutting trees is definitely not the solution. Filling potholes and creating a separate space for street vendors are some ways to tackle traffic congestion on the stretch,” one of the protestors was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
Protests at Jayamahal on tree cutting BBMP says "just road widening" but will weaken Green Tribunal case #MaraKadiBeda #SteelFlyoverBeda
— Veena Srinivasan (@veenas_water) February 11, 2017
This is not the first time Bengalureans staged a protest against cutting down trees. In October 2016, people in Bengaluru had protested against cutting down 812 trees on the Ballari Road for the same reason.
The pollution level in Bengaluru has been on the rise. Thus the city, which once was a paradise, is being threatened now and that is not a good sign. Bengaluru does need a lot more trees thus BBMP, instead of cutting them down, should be planting more to save the city.