Published on 06.01.2024 in Dwarka Express

Once known as ‘Garden city’, Bangalore is slowly losing the charm of its title, it acquired over a long period of time. If one goes for a ride in the city’s iconic roads like MG Road etc., he would realize that the city may not be the same as it was, a few decades before. The freshness one felt when jogging through the misty roads in winter, is almost lost. Old time Bengalurians fondly recollect the good efforts by the forest officer Seturam Gopalrao Neginhal, popularly calledSG Neginhal, a dedicated forest officer, who passed away at 93. He is remembered for his prodigious work in planting millions of trees between 1982 and 1987. Worried by the disappearing tree cover, Guntu Rao, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka approached Neginhal, to initiate corrective steps. At a time when there was a mushrooming of new housing layouts and multi storied complexes, Neginhal’s arrival at Bengaluru in 1981 was a blessing in disguise. It is his wisdom and dedication that transformed Bengaluru into the Garden City of India. But he is no more and the city is also losing its green cover.

The Bengalurians lament that once travelling in Mysore Road was a pleasure. In the last few years, the trees, especially near Majestic, Babuji Nagar etc were completely eliminated and literally there are no trees, say the regular users of the road. This is not an isolated case for Mysore Road alone. The lush green trees which are still seen appear to be full of dust and greyish due to pollutants and dust deposited over the canopy, thanks to the ever-increasing automobiles clubbed with unabated construction everywhere. The tree bases are concretised at many places. Electric wires tied on the trunks are looking messed up. On several places one can see nailed posters on tree trunks. A late evening drive will reveal that trees are now used for the lighting purpose. Are these nor crimes against trees in blatant violation of Karnataka Preservation of Tree Act 1976?

The question arises whether we could bring back the last glory? Preserving the existing trees is better than planting a sapling and waiting for 10 long years to reap the benefits of oxygen yield as well as the shades it would give. The tree offenders must be booked under the present laws. The officials who are expected to preserve the trees use the law liberally to give permission to fell the trees without making proper cost benefit analysis. The laws must be stringent and permission for felling a tree should not be used just to accommodate some infra builders against the assurance to compensate with 10 trees is not correct.

“Saplings for Bengaluru” campaign was a community initiative which targeted one crore saplings in and around Bangalore. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation is planting trees everywhere in Bangalore as part of their compensatory planting scheme. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has given massive contracts to certain private planting agencies in the city. Innumerable trees with cost effective tree guards are being planted alongside roads. Though the move is welcome, it is also seen that the planted saplings are not nurtured properly. In some cases, contractors are not seen watering the saplings. Depending solely on rain is not correct as the rain was insufficient last year. All that is needed is more commitment and monitoring to increase the success rate. Will the authorities do that?