Court restrains BBMP from felling trees along Sampige Road

The high court on Friday directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) not to go ahead with its plan to chop down the seven-decade-old lush green trees along Sampige Road in Malleswaram.

A division bench comprising chief justice JS Khehar and justice AS Bopanna further ordered the Palike not to precipitate the matter till the next date of hearing. It also directed BBMP to seek instructions from higher authorities on their next course of action.

A city-based advocate, AV Amarnathan, had filed a PIL objecting to the chopping of the beautiful trees there. The petitioner submitted that on March 16, BBMP officers visited the spot and took a hasty decision to widen the road and cut the trees in 15 days.

The advocate sought the court’s intervention to prevent the respondents from cutting the trees.

Amarnathan contended that BBMP, without verifying the pros and cons, had permitted private builder Mantri Builders to build a mall and an apartment in the area.

He said the builder had violated the sanction plan and did not adhere to the guidance issued by BBMP, but the government did not take action.