Karnataka high court orders BBMP to begin tree census

Bengaluru:  Karnataka high court on Thursday (October 10) advised the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to start the tree census within 30 days. Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice SR Krishna Kumar issued this direction while responding to Bangalore Environment Trust in relation to the protection of trees and a  PIL filed by Dattatreya T Devare.  

BBMP council earlier had informed the high court that the census would be carried out in a month by the Institution of Wood Science and Technology (IWST). On October 10, the court asked the IWST to produce the work order issued by the BBMP for the same.

The BBMP council has also submitted before the court that the necessary exemption has been sought from the state government to entrust the census to IWST which quoted Rs 4 crore for the same.  

The court warned the BBMP for not starting the tree census, despite the directions issued by it on August 20, 2019.

Meanwhile, the court said that there is no control over the cutting of trees in the city and asked that why are you taking it casually even though the issue is related to the green cover in the city?  It also added that this is a case fit for contempt. Unless we take action under the Contempt of Courts Act, nothing will move. 

The court posted the matter for further hearing and filling of compliance affidavits on November 13.

• Karnataka
• high court
• BBMP
• tree census