The Greater Bengaluru Authority has received more than 1,500 objections to the proposed felling of 1,128 trees for the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project, while the National Green Tribunal has restrained the Bangalore Development Authority from cutting any trees until the next hearing in the case.
The GBA invited objections on September 20 and set a 10-day deadline. Activists had sought an extension after the authority did not upload the list of tree species proposed to be affected. According to GBA sources, more than 700 objections were received during the initial window, with the remaining submissions arriving before the final deadline.
A GBA officer told The Hindu that many objections were detailed and focused on species diversity, the number and size of trees proposed for removal, and the effects of the project on the surrounding environment. Some submissions included independent assessments of tree sizes and lists of species intended to highlight biodiversity concerns.
Other objections have raised questions about the potential impact on wildlife, hydrology and the local microclimate. The proposed alignment is close to Hebbal Lake, and residents and activists have also warned that removing trees from the area could increase the risk of heat-island conditions. The site has been described in the objections as an important green space in the city.
The GBA is grouping the objections under different themes before sending them to the tree expert committee and the BDA, which is the implementing agency for the project. The BDA will be required to review the concerns and explain the need for the proposed tree removal. A joint inspection of the site by the tree expert committee and BDA officials is also planned.
The NGT’s restraint order prevents the BDA from felling trees until the hearing of the petition challenging the proposed tree removal is completed. The next hearing is scheduled for December 15, and further action will depend on the tribunal’s proceedings and directions.
The number of trees to be removed remains subject to the tree expert committee’s decision. During a recent interaction with The Hindu, BDA Chairperson N.A. Haris had said that only 56 trees would be felled and that the remaining trees would be translocated. A GBA official, however, said that the final decision on felling or translocation would have to be taken by the committee.
The official also said that, regardless of whether trees are translocated or felled, the BDA would have to plant 10 trees for every tree cleared. The committee’s review, the joint site inspection and the NGT hearing will determine the next steps for the project.
