Khandre instructs officials not to permit felling of trees at Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony

Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday has instructed officials to not permit felling of trees at Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony at Vasanthnagar, where the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has sought permission to cut 368 trees for a railway commercial development project.

Presiding over a special meeting of the Karnataka Biodiversity Board, Mr. Khandre said that in the railway colony there are 368 large trees of various species which is a biodiversity hotspot.

Locals and environmentalists had submitted a request to declare the area as a biodiversity heritage site.

In response, the Minister has instructed officials to begin the process for the same and has ordered that no tree felling be permitted until then.

Last week, Mr. Khandre visited Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony and promised the public that a meeting with officials would be called to review the matter.

In April, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued a public notice inviting objections to the proposed felling of 368 trees located inside the colony.

Environmental activists have also written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to immediately intervene and prevent the felling of 368 trees.

He also said that the committee formed under the Chief of Forest Force to study the carrying capacity of the Western Ghats should submit its report within six months.