Bengaluru: Protest erupts at Cantonment as citizens rally to protect 368 trees

Activists and residents rally at Cantonment Railway Colony urging BBMP to protect 368 heritage trees, warning against reversal of the Biodiversity Zone status.

Environmental activists and residents gathered on Sunday at the iconic Cantonment Railway Colony to oppose any move that could endanger 368 century-old trees standing on the site. Demonstrators hung placards on the trees with sharp slogans, pressing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to honor its earlier commitment to safeguard the area as a biodiversity zone and warning against any reversal of that stand.

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The agitation comes in the wake of unease sparked by a recent meeting chaired by BBMP Administrator Tushar Girinath, where the possibility of reviewing the protection status was reportedly discussed.

This is not the first time the trees have faced a threat. A proposal by Bagmane Builders to construct on the land had previously set off widespread anger, resulting in over 10,700 objections and nearly 4,500 emails sent to government officials. The campaign, led by the citizens’ collective Parisarakkagi Naavu, drew broad support from retired Supreme Court judges, religious leaders, authors, journalists, and senior citizens, who argued that a city that has lost the bulk of its greenery since the 1970s cannot withstand another ecological blow.

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That earlier movement had prompted Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to personally inspect the site in June and assure intervention. Days later, on June 25, the Karnataka State Biodiversity Board formally designated the Cantonment Railway Colony as a ‘Biodiversity Zone’ — a decision that initially gave residents and activists some relief.

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But with new signals that the decision may be revisited, campaigners say the stakes are higher than ever. With Bengaluru’s green cover now estimated at under 3 percent and air pollution steadily worsening, they argue that the Cantonment trees have come to represent far more than just a local conservation fight — they embody the city’s broader struggle to hold on to its natural heritage and livability.

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