Namma Metro to cost Bengaluru another 3000 plus trees

The Namma Metro rail project has already cost the city thousands of trees, and now it will cost three thousand plus more for the second phase.

And they can chop the trees down with little oversight. As per existing state law, an environment clearance is not needed by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to cut down trees. However it has to obtain a certificate from the Forest wing of the BBMP.

Currently, the BMRCL has sent a proposal requesting a permit to cut down of 733 trees for the second phase of Namma Metro project between RV Road and Bommasandra.  But that is just the beginning, more are planned.

The BMRCL is constructing a station at the Lakshman Rao Park in Jayanagar. This move has been questioned by citizens’ forum with the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT has called for the hearing on January 30. Now citizens’ forum is going to file another appeal to prevent the cutting of 733 trees.

Pradeep Singh Kharola, MD of the BMRCL, told the media that they were going to defend their decision to cut down the trees, based on the verdict of Supreme Court to Delhi’s NGT.

In September 2016, the Supreme Court had stayed an NGT’s order asking Indian Railways and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to seek environmental clearances for their projects.

Proposed number of trees to be uprooted:

• namma metro
• green tribunal
• jayanagar
• environment clearance
• supreme court