Greater Bengaluru Authority receives around 1,600 objections to tree-felling for Hebbal Short Tunnel

A view of the Greater Bengaluru Authority office in Bengaluru.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has received around 1,600 objections to the proposed felling of 1,128 trees for the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project. Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has restrained the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) from felling any trees until the hearing of a petition challenging the tree felling is completed.

The GBA invited objections to the proposed tree-felling on September 20, providing a 10-day deadline. However, the authority did not upload the list of tree species, prompting activists to demand an extension.

According to the GBA sources, more than 700 objections were received during the first window, with the remaining submissions coming in before the final deadline.

An officer told The Hindu that the key concerns raised in the objections related to species diversity and the large number of trees proposed to be felled. “Many objections are very detailed and include lists of species to highlight biodiversity. Others focus on a specific aspect, such as the microclimate, and elaborate on the impact that tree felling could have on it,” the officer said.

According to the officer, several objections also relate to the size of certain trees, based on independent assessments carried out by those who submitted them. Other objections raise concerns about the impact on biodiversity, hydrological issues arising from the alignment’s proximity to Hebbal Lake, and the risk of the area turning into a heat island, given its role as a key lung space.

The officer said the objections were being filtered and grouped under different themes. “We will forward all the objections and concerns raised by citizens to the tree expert committee and the implementing agency, the BDA. The BDA will also examine the objections and explain why the trees need to be felled. A joint inspection of the site will be carried out by members of the tree expert committee and the BDA to review the proposal,” he said.

Meanwhile, following an NGT stay order, the BDA cannot fell any trees until December 15, the next date of hearing. Any further action will depend on the outcome of the hearing.

Recently, during an interaction with The Hindu, BDA Chairperson N.A. Haris said that only 56 trees would be felled and the remaining trees would be translocated. However, the GBA officer clarified that any decision regarding the trees would have to be taken by the tree expert committee.

“Irrespective of whether the trees are translocated or felled, the BDA will have to plant 10 trees for every tree cleared,” the GBA official said.

India / Karnataka / Bengaluru / environmental issues