Bengaluru: Environmentalists write to PM against 368 trees felling for commercial project

Environmentalists, civic leaders, and concerned citizens under the banner "Parisarakkagi Naavu" have sent an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister of India to halt the proposed cutting of 368 fully grown trees in the Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Colony. The trees are slated for removal to make way for a commercial development on an 8.61-acre land parcel owned by the Railways, a project expected to raise Rs 300 crore for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project.

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In the detailed memorandum submitted by former MLA A.T. Ramaswamy on behalf of the group, the appeal highlights the grave environmental consequences of such large-scale deforestation. The area in question is rich in biodiversity and houses trees over a century old, including heritage species such as Peepal. Locals argue that destroying such a green zone would be a devastating loss to Bengaluru’s already shrinking tree cover.

Citing studies by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the letter warns that Bengaluru’s green cover has plummeted from 68% in 1973 to a mere 3% today. Furthermore, air quality in the city continues to deteriorate, with PM10 levels increasing by 46% over the last decade, a direct result of declining tree cover, according to research from Atlas AQ and Respirer Living Sciences.

The protest is gaining momentum. On World Environment Day (June 5), the “Vruksha Raksha Abhiyana” rally saw participation from retired Supreme Court judges, religious leaders, authors, and activists, all strongly opposing the tree felling.