[sustran] Tree-cutting: public meeting today, 4 pm, BMP gates, Bangalore

[ESG India S2L]

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                     4 pm, 19th April, Tuesday

                     DO COME TO THE BMP GATES!

                        Corporation office
                          (Hudson Circle)
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Over the last week, trees are being chopped everywhere in Bangalore.
Several concerned citizens and organizations of Bangalore have stopped the
tree cutting, only to see them being cut in the night or the wee hours of
the morning.

Chopping down trees is not the solution to Bangalore's traffic woes!
The longer you wait, the more trees will Bangalore lose!

(Note: BMP = Bangalore Mahanagara Palike)
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                              IF YOU ...
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If you are wondering how cutting roadside trees will help ease traffic
congestion, then please come to the BMP at 4pm on the 19th April.

If there are a few hours you are going to spare for the green cover of
Bangalore, its tree-lined avenues, their shade and cool, then 4pm on the the
19th April, let it be!

If you think there should be greater public participation and input in
addressing the matter of the city's traffic problems, then please do come at
4 pm on the 19th April to the BMP.

If you have read the Tree Act and are wondering how come the BMP has the
authority to cut trees without approval from the Forest Department, then do
come on the 19th of April, 4 pm to the BMP.

If you are concerned about traffic congestion in Bangalore, then please do
come on the 19th April, 4 pm to the BMP.

If you love trees, then please do come on the 19th April, 4 pm to the BMP.

If you are wondering how come 15+ trees have been given to a contractor to
be cut for only about 30,000 rupees when the value of the wood is far far
higher, then do come at 4 pm on the 19th April to the BMP.

If there are other reasons why you think you should be there at 4pm on the
19th of April, then please please do come and tell the Commissioner and
everyone else why you are there!

If you ...

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                           COME AND ASK ...
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Come and ask the Commissioner why there is so much tree-cutting going on in
Bangalore.  Come and ask the Commissioner how come the Forest Department is
not approving the tree cutting and yet the BMP is still going ahead with it.
Come and ask the Commissioner if it will really solve the city's traffic
problems.  Come and ask the Commissioner why the trees being cut are
seriously undervalued before allowing contractors to cut them.  Come and ask
why the Task Force on Traffic Management is not engaging the public
seriously.

Come and ask ....

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As many of you are aware, the BMP has been cutting trees stating that they
want to widen the roads in order to solve the traffic problems of Bangalore.
But, as you might also be aware, there has been a growing movement of people
who are protesting this felling of the trees by the BMP on ethical and legal
grounds.  At the same time, the movement has the support of a large number
of urban planners, traffic managers and citizens who are putting forward
alternative plans to solve the traffic problem without cutting trees in the
city.  Will the tree cutting really solve the traffic problems?  Why is not
there greater citizen input in the process?  What other avenues to traffic
management are being considered?  Many questions and few answers.

Bring your family, friends, and a poster or two to share your thoughts.

Abraham, Arun, Arvind, Anjan, Aalok, Benson, Bhargavi, Clifton, Dinesh,
Divya, Divya, Francis, Gaurav, Jacob, Jai Krishna, Kedar, Kishen Das, Leigh,
Leo, Nagarajan, Rohan, Santhosh, Shilpa, Sowmya, Sriniranjan, Subbu, Swetha,
Thangamma, Vishwas and several other individuals ....

Environment Support Group, Alternative Law Forum, Greenpeace


Environment Support Group (R)
S-3, Rajashree Apts.
18/57, 1st Main, SRK Gardens
Bannerghatta Road, Jayanagar
Bangalore 560041. INDIA
Telefax: 91-80-26341977/26531339/26534364
Fax: 91-80-51179912/26341977
Email: esg at esgindia.org;   esg at bgl.vsnl.net.in
Web: www.esgindia.org