BBMP will take stern action against agencies felling trees

The Lokayukta in Bengaluru has asked the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take strict action against agencies that cut or prune trees to ensure better visibility to their respective hoardings on the roads. Instead, the Lokayukta has told the civic body that hoardings that affect the tree cover should be pulled down.

Given that BBMP is short-staffed, the Lokayukta has advised the civic body to form ‘Tree Vigilance Teams’ in consultation with activists, environmentalists and NGOs.

There were reports in the past that many trees that obstructed the visibility of large hoardings were being poisoned with chemicals and acids.