Other small trees too came under the axe on the premises of a maternity hospitalIn a hurry to set up Indira Canteens, subsidised eateries being opened across Bengaluru, the authorities are knocking out several trees which are in the way. The latest to fall is a big tree on the premises of a maternity hospital in ward number-89, Jogupalya.Other than that, three small trees too were cut at the Muniswamappa & Doddamma Maternity Hospital’s premises.Social activist BR Chandran, a resident of Halasur, said, “This hospital was named after Muniswamappa and Doddamma as they had donated land.Jayachamarajendra Odeyar and then chief minister BD Jatti had inaugurated it. As Bengaluru grows, the hospital’s compound, in the recent years, has turned into a dumping yard. A Nandini milk booth too has been established here and a public toilet has come up here too,” he said.Besides bringing in HOPCOMS into the hospital’s premises, the government has now set its eye on a small park located in the hospital’s premises for building Indira Canteen. This is why the trees were axed. When the public opposed the move, tree-cutting was stopped temporarily. “But, the big tree was abruptly cut on Wednesday night,” Chandran said.On being informed about cutting of a tree the hospital’s premises, police sub-inspector of Halasur police station arrived on the spot on Wednesday, but he could not do much as the engineer at the spot showed him a permission letter. Residents have urged the government to establish an Indira Canteen in a building behind the hospital lying vacant for the last 15 years. This building is located on the First Cross near the BBMP Revenue Inspector’s office. Vijay Nishanth, an environmentalist, said,”We are not against Indira Canteens, but the government should be concerned about the eco-system.”BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said, “I have directed that trees must not be cut for construction of Indira Canteen. If trees are being cut, I will get it stopped,” he said.