BBMP spends Rs 7.93 crore to cut trees in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: One will be surprised to know that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) forest department annually spends Rs 7.93 crore. This amount is not towards any afforestation but to cut trees in Bengaluru. According to Cholaraj, BBMP Forest Cell, Deputy Conservator of Forest, the amount is paid to contractors to identify dead old trees, trees that have vulnerable branches in eight zones and also to its 21 teams that is tasked to cut trees. So far the team has cut 650 trees and 3,000 odd branches that are vulnerable to public property and life. He also mentioned that the department has included another Rs 3 crore proposal due to increase in cost of service, additional teams and labour.