BANGALORE: The protest against tree felling in Lalbagh for Metro rail construction is fast gaining momentum, with more and more citizens coming to the forefront to express their dissent. In a demonstration organised in front of Lalbagh on Friday, nearly 300 people, including children, demanded that the proposed Metro station within Lalbagh be shifted to another location.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had demolished five trees in Lalbagh and over 500 feet of Lalbagh’s compound wall earlier this week.
The protesters said that Metro station in Lalbagh should be built underground, if necessary. “The government is unnecessarily spending Rs 3,000 crore for the High Speed Rail Link from MG Road to Bangalore Airport, which will benefit around 30,000 air travellers only. This amount can instead be used for building the Metro underground and save the city’s trees and heritage sites,” Vinay, a member of Hasiru Usiru said. The protesters shouted slogans and songs voicing their demands.
“We are not against Metro rail, but chopping trees without consulting the public or without compensating for the loss of tree cover is unacceptable.The alignment of the rail was changed suddenly to protect some vested interests,” said K Vittal Shetty, one of the protesters. Around 1,135 sq mt of Lalbagh has been acquired for Metro station, while the BBMP Tree Officer has said that no permission has been obtained for the chopping of trees in the area. Information obtained by Hasiru Usiru through RTI indicates that 323 trees along Nanda-RV road will be chopped as well.