Twitter
Advertisement

Auction replay on Bangalore's Sankey Road

Amid a sound and fury drama, angry citizens prevented 19 trees on Sankey Road from going under the hammer on Wednesday by forcing the BBMP to turn away bidders.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Amid a sound and fury drama, angry citizens prevented 19 trees on Sankey Road from going under the hammer on Wednesday by forcing the BBMP to turn away bidders.

But officials, who were not ready to be let down, gave the drama a new twist through an auction replay by making vain attempts to complete the sale even as angry citizens kept on shouting slogans. Young and old joined in the chorus in favour of the trees.

“What will we leave for our children if we go on cutting the trees? Vehicle numbers will keep going higher. The more you expand the roads, the denser the traffic will become,” said Dr CV Geetha, a tree hugger.

“This is a short-term solution, a destructive solution, and not sustainable development. The BBMP cannot take the easy way out,” said students of Mount Carmel College’s Home Science course.

Adding to the confusion, another group arrived on the scene shouting slogans in favour of road widening. “We want development, wider roads. Our city needs this solution for easy movement of vehicles for the next eight to 10 years at least. Some other solution can be thought of when these roads too fall short,” a member of the new group said.

Tree huggers explained that they were merely asking for the auction to be postponed as they had appealed to the appellate authority to review the permission given by the tree officer Venkateshappa to do away with the identified trees.

Greens to meet deputy mayor today
“We have a meeting with the deputy mayor on Thursday to discuss the issue. We are just requesting that the auction be postponed until the decision is reviewed and discussed,” said Vinay Srinivas, a member of Hasiru Usiru.

Under the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act 1976, one can appeal to the tree authority against the permission to fell trees given by tree officer. 

The authority comprises the mayor, divisional forest officer or his nominee, district horticultural officer having jurisdiction, commissioner and one other member of the municipal council.

The appeal has to be filed within 30 days of permission being granted. Members of the authority have to give the appellants a hearing and then take a final decision. “We have given the letter on Wednesday morning. Action on it is pending,” Srinivas said.
Auction postponed to July 1

Not to be discouraged by repeated disruptions, BBMP officials pushed hard to complete the task they were assigned. There was an ‘auction replay’ when bidders and two representatives of the BBMP huddled up to complete the auctioning amid the commotion. The drama ended with the officials returning the demand drafts of Rs10,000 to the nine bidders. Police too warned the citizens.

“This is not a peaceful protest. You are not allowing the auction to take place. We will have to take action against you,” said officer BS Abdul Khadar during an altercation with activists. Left with no option, the tree officer postponed the auction to July 1.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement