Trees are one of the most valuable gifts of nature. They are pleasant things in nature. Not only people get many things from trees, but also animals get many things from trees. Trees provide good air for us. As well as trees provide rain for us. Without trees, there will be no rain. Without rain, we can’t grow our crops. As well as they improve the beauty of nature. So, we must protect the trees.

These were the foremost topics we use to come across while we use to go to school, where did the moral go? Where are we heading?

Bengaluru’s Future

The 22.12-km corridor from Baptist Hospital to Silk Board Junction, which is a part of the ambitious elevated network project, will cross busy parts of the Central Business District, intercept the metro’s Purple line and Richmond Circle flyover. This could also result in the axing of over 3700 trees along the stretch of the corridor.

The situation might deteriorate further if the contentious 96 km long elevated corridor project crisscrossing the city sees the light of day.

The North-South corridor is likely to take a heavy toll on the green cover on Jayamahal Road and Queens Road. It will run adjacent to Cubbon Park from Minsk Square to Kasturba Road where full-grown trees are seen on either side of the road. Cubbon Park is the lung area of Bengaluru. The Corridor will destroy 120 fully grown trees in Cubbon Park.

The study conducted by consultants Aecom, Deloitte and Infra Support, accessed by TNM, says that 858 trees in “sensitive wooded stretches” including Cubbon Park and Coles Park, will be sacrificed for the project.

In fact, not only will the loss be as high as 3000 trees but the project will also cut through a section of the city’s remaining untouched green cover, which had escaped concretization. Another 601 trees will be pruned in addition, due to the project, according to the Environmental Impact Assessment report.

Lakes not being spare

The report said that other than impacting the tree cover, the city’s already dwindling lakes will be further impacted due to this project. There are many water bodies along the proposed route of elevated corridors. Construction of the project corridor and the associated activities will impact the water bodies and their ecology.

The EIA said that other than impacting the tree cover, the city’s already dwindling lakes will be further impacted due to this project. In fact, the proposed alignment will violate the National Green Tribunal ruling on the buffer zone of lakes, rajakaluves on 10 counts.

Garden city Diminishing

The satellite image shows Banglore is no more a garden city. The city’s green cover, including vegetation of all forms, has been declining over the past six years. The rain was almost a daily phenomenon back then. Most roads were tree-lined, trees which blossomed in different colors and seasons. And the lakes were filled with rainwater and had massive birdlife and animal life. If we let these trees go at this rate, Bengaluru will be uninhabitable in a few years.

A 2017 study conducted by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science using satellite imagery, remote sensing data, and multi-criteria decision-making techniques had predicted that Bengaluru, once known as the Garden City, will have a tree cover of only 2.96% by 2020. This, as opposed to 68.2% in 1973 and 38.7% in 2002.

Trees and the People

Overall nature can help to soothe violent temperaments. Trees help to lessen mental fatigue which can cause outbursts of anger and lead to violent activity. Healthy urban forests, can diminish feelings of fear and reduce incidences of crime and violence.
Trees on the street will encourage more people to use the outdoor space and thereby defend the community against crime. Well maintained vegetation and trees imply that residents care about their home and community.

City trees alter the environment in which we live, moderating the climate, improving air quality, conserving water, and supporting wildlife. Let’s not destroy it.