The National Green Tribunal has restrained the felling of trees anywhere along Bengaluru’s Hebbal Short Tunnel Project until the matter is disposed of, putting the Bangalore Development Authority’s tree-removal plans on hold ahead of the next hearing on December 15.
The order, issued on Friday, states that “there should not be any cutting of trees, be it in any area of the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project till the matter is disposed of.” The direction means that the BDA cannot cut trees along the project alignment until at least the tribunal’s next hearing.
The case arose after Aranya, Parisara Mathu Havamana Badalavane, Sangha, Mangaluru, approached the NGT seeking a restraining order. The application followed the tribunal’s earlier suo motu cognisance of a report on the proposed removal of trees for the project. The Hindu’s September 24 report had stated that 1,128 trees, representing more than 70 species, had been marked for felling for the tunnel project.
The NGT’s intervention followed a dispute over the scope of an undertaking given by the Karnataka government before the High Court. During an earlier suo motu proceeding, the government had submitted that writ petitions concerning the project were pending before the High Court and that the Advocate-General had undertaken that no trees would be cut until the matter was disposed of. The NGT subsequently disposed of its original suo motu case after receiving the government’s representation.
Aranya later pointed out that the undertaking referred to a different area, Lalbagh, even though it concerned the same project. The group argued that the assurance did not cover the entire Hebbal tunnel alignment. Government counsel subsequently clarified before the NGT that the undertaking related to the Lalbagh area. The tribunal then issued its broader restraint covering the project.
The order adds to uncertainty over how the authorities plan to deal with the trees marked along the 2.3-km twin-tunnel route. BDA Chairman N. A. Haris told The Hindu that the authority did not intend to fell all 1,128 trees. According to him, the BDA planned to translocate 1,072 trees and axe the remaining trees.
However, a public notice issued by the Greater Bengaluru Authority refers to the “removal” of trees along Hebbal Main Road for the tunnel project. The difference in terminology has become a point of contention, as civic groups opposing the project have argued that the BDA cannot independently decide the fate of the trees. According to the groups, such a decision can be taken only by the Tree Expert Committee.
The NGT’s order now prevents any tree cutting across the project area while the legal and administrative questions remain before the tribunal. The matter is scheduled to come up next on December 15.
