Tree committee suggests pruning or transplantation to minimise loss of greenery due to construction of metro Phase II

Over 70 trees may get a fresh lease of life after a committee reviewed the ones placed on the chopping board to make way for expansion of the metro network on Kanakapura Road.

Up to 190 trees were proposed to be cut down for the 6.5-km stretch from Puttenhalli to Anjanapura Road Cross. A 12-member committee, which comprises researchers and urban conservationists, has suggested pruning or transplantation the trees to minimise the loss of greenery in the area.

A similar exercise is expected to be undertaken on Mysuru Road, where 113 trees were on the chopping board, in the next two days. “The tree committee will meet again on July 15 to chalk out the final details with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL),” said H.S. Ranganathaswamy, Assistant Conservator of Forests, BBMP (Forest Cell). “A majority of trees that will eventually be felled are very mature trees that may become weak in a couple years.”

The committee was formed after three public meetings failed to get the go-ahead from citizens. Residents and activists had questioned BMRCL’s claims of planting of 21,000 trees to compensate for those cut under Phase I as well as their methodology of identifying trees to be cut.

“Initially, any tree that fell within 13.5m of the metro median was proposed to be cut. But, we have identified narrow trees within this range that can be spared through pruning or removal of branches. Some of these are within 5m of the pillar, but we feel they will not hinder construction,” said Vijay Nishant, a member of the committee.

Younger trees (less than 25 years), which have to be removed, will be transplanted to other areas, the bill for which will be footed by BMRCL, he said. The committee has worked out the economics of the process. At least four trees can be transplanted in a day, with the cost coming to less than Rs. 60,000 per tree depending on size.

Faced with the enormous task of confirming BMRCL’s claim that 21,004 trees were planted to replace 2,500 trees that were felled for Phase I, the tree committee is mulling over geo-tagging all the saplings.

According to the BMRCL, the trees were planted in 15 locations, including Peenya and Anjanapura depots. The committee visited four of these sites and said it appeared that plantation had been done well with a ‘good survival rate’ of over 50 per cent.

However, they observed that the plantations were mono-culture (only one species of trees) and have suggested that future afforestation efforts should ensure multi-crop, native species to preserve bio-diversity.

Other recommendations are to geo-tag the locations and number of trees, which can be verified by the public, while also engaging with environment officers to ensure plantation is done scientifically.

By the end of the week, the final hurdle in the way of Phase II will be cleared. BMRCL expects to get approval for its contentious proposal of cutting trees on Kanakapura Road and Mysuru Road after a review by a 12-member tree committee on July 15.

“After the meeting, we can give the approval, along with conditions that BMRCL has in-principle agreed to. As the committee comprises experts in the field, we do not need another public consultation meeting,” said H.S. Ranganathaswamy, Assistant Conservator of Forests, BBMP. The tree committee, which was the result of public pressure, will be a ‘model’ for other large-scale projects and future metro expansions, he said.