Nelamangala residents oppose auction of decades-old trees

BENGALURU: Residents of Nelamangala are opposing a plan of auction off decades-old trees on both sides of Sondekoppa road, which had been widened just two years ago. Now the Public Works Department and Forest Department have marked 18 trees for chopping and called an auction to sell the fully grown trees. Local residents, along with some organisations, are opposing it in order to protect the green cover.

Locals are questioning why the trees have to be cut two years after the road was widened. Along with some pro-Kannada activists and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members, they hugged the trees as a mark of protest and warned the authorities not to cut them.

AAP leader Gangabailappa said, “Tree gives everything like water, oxygen. I don’t know what is the purpose behind chopping off these trees. The Forest Department has earmarked 18 trees to be auctioned off. It will take decades to grow such huge trees. Don’t they know about impact of cutting trees? If the department goes ahead with cutting the trees, we will definitely lay siege to the Forest Department office”.

Narasimhaiah, a pro-Kannada activist, said, “A tree produces oxygen for 150 people. We are opposing the plan to cut the trees in order to protect nature. We dread that a day will come when we will have to be carrying oxygen bags with us. The department has earmarked trees which are not even harm anyone. We will not let them cut these trees. Despite our request, if they cut them, we will erect sheds under these trees and stage massive protest along with other organisations”.