A petition from Jhatkaa.org supporting the #NoSteelFlyover (SteelFlyoverBeda) movement garnered 1.6 lakh signatures in 2016. As a phenomenal show of solidarity, 8000+ citizens gathered to form a human chain standing up for Namma Bengaluru’s age-old trees.
Picture: Deccan Herald More than 800 trees were marked between Chalukya Circle and Hebbal to make way for the proposed steel flyover. BDA abandoned the exorbitant infrastructure project post the peaceful public protest, leading the campaign and Bangalore’s green cover to a victorious moment.
Now, BBMP intends to revive the shelved plan of constructing a (steel/concrete) flyover on Bellari Road. Despite the massive public outcry in the past, the civic body is working on conducting a feasibility evaluation of the proposed stretch. However, the cost of every ‘development’ project is borne bitterly by the environment.
As part of the fore mentioned project, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of BBMP issued a public notice for felling 58 mighty trees as part of road widening. There's an ongoing ten-day notice where the public can file objections to the tree cutting(The deadline being 16 October 2022.) BBMP had earlier shared a defunct email ID to send in the objections.
When environmentalists and fellow Bangaloreans called out the error, the forest wing of the municipal corporation issued a revised notice and corrected the ‘glitch’ soon after.
As per Deccan Herald, “While the BBMP has announced the removal of 58 trees, the trees marked on the notice uploaded on the website take the number beyond 100.”
These include eminent kinds such as banyan, teek, peepal, honge (Indian beech), tamarind, Ashoka, jackfruit, nerale (Indian blackberry), and mango amongst other species.
With namma city turning into a concrete jungle rapidly, the least we can do is take long-standing measures to preserve her shaken crown of greenery.
Instead of a flyover, a suburban rail/metro/light rail project works wonders. While flyovers lead to increased traffic bottlenecks and pollution, mass transit projects contribute to long term decongestion of Bengaluru's streets while contributing to the air quality. With a higher rate of utility, mass transit projects also lower the impact on the environment.
Cradled within each of us is the power to protect Namma Bengaluru’s vanishing green cover.
Sign the petition and join us in urging BBMP to improve the existing mass transit network instead and discard the steel flyover project.
Lend your voice in preserving our green heritage!
Sources :
https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bbmp-to-widen-road-near-palace-grounds-58-trees-to-go-1149758.html
https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/bbmp-plans-fresh-start-for-aborted-steel-flyover/articleshow/94627458.cms
https://act.jhatkaa.org/campaigns/save-bangalore-s-trees
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/now-bbmp-plans-to-construct-flyover-between-chalukya-circle-and-hebbal/article65992497.ece
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-activists-decry-proposal-to-cut-58-trees-to-widen-stretch/articleshow/94670125.cms
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-govt-blinks-drops-bridge-project-as-steelflyoverbeda-campaign-wins/
A petition from Jhatkaa.org supporting the #NoSteelFlyover (SteelFlyoverBeda) movement garnered 1.6 lakh signatures in 2016. As a phenomenal show of solidarity, 8000+ citizens gathered to form a human chain standing up for Namma Bengaluru’s age-old trees.
Picture: Deccan Herald More than 800 trees were marked between Chalukya Circle and Hebbal to make way for the proposed steel flyover. BDA abandoned the exorbitant infrastructure project post the peaceful public protest, leading the campaign and Bangalore’s green cover to a victorious moment.
Now, BBMP intends to revive the shelved plan of constructing a (steel/concrete) flyover on Bellari Road. Despite the massive public outcry in the past, the civic body is working on conducting a feasibility evaluation of the proposed stretch. However, the cost of every ‘development’ project is borne bitterly by the environment.
As part of the fore mentioned project, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of BBMP issued a public notice for felling 58 mighty trees as part of road widening. There's an ongoing ten-day notice where the public can file objections to the tree cutting(The deadline being 16 October 2022.) BBMP had earlier shared a defunct email ID to send in the objections.
When environmentalists and fellow Bangaloreans called out the error, the forest wing of the municipal corporation issued a revised notice and corrected the ‘glitch’ soon after.
As per Deccan Herald, “While the BBMP has announced the removal of 58 trees, the trees marked on the notice uploaded on the website take the number beyond 100.”
These include eminent kinds such as banyan, teek, peepal, honge (Indian beech), tamarind, Ashoka, jackfruit, nerale (Indian blackberry), and mango amongst other species.
With namma city turning into a concrete jungle rapidly, the least we can do is take long-standing measures to preserve her shaken crown of greenery.
Instead of a flyover, a suburban rail/metro/light rail project works wonders. While flyovers lead to increased traffic bottlenecks and pollution, mass transit projects contribute to long term decongestion of Bengaluru's streets while contributing to the air quality. With a higher rate of utility, mass transit projects also lower the impact on the environment.
Cradled within each of us is the power to protect Namma Bengaluru’s vanishing green cover.
Sign the petition and join us in urging BBMP to improve the existing mass transit network instead and discard the steel flyover project.
Lend your voice in preserving our green heritage!
Sources :
https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bbmp-to-widen-road-near-palace-grounds-58-trees-to-go-1149758.html
https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/bbmp-plans-fresh-start-for-aborted-steel-flyover/articleshow/94627458.cms
https://act.jhatkaa.org/campaigns/save-bangalore-s-trees
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/now-bbmp-plans-to-construct-flyover-between-chalukya-circle-and-hebbal/article65992497.ece
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-activists-decry-proposal-to-cut-58-trees-to-widen-stretch/articleshow/94670125.cms
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-govt-blinks-drops-bridge-project-as-steelflyoverbeda-campaign-wins/
Thank you for signing the petition to urge BBMP to discard the steel flyover project at Bellari Road.
The more people are behind an issue - the more likely it is that the BBMP will pay attention. Each name that is added to a campaign takes it one step closer to succeeding.
Can you help spread the word about Save Bangalore's trees petition by sharing it with your friends and family?
Thanks for all that you do,
The Jhatkaa.org team
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