Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (GKVK)’s Department of Forestry, appointed by the Karnataka High Court as an expert agency to examine whether the BMRCL translocated trees scientifically, and if any of the remaining 59 trees can be saved while constructing the Nagawara-Gottigere Metro alignment, submitted its report yesterday (Monday, 27th July 2020) finding the procedure adopted for excavation and transplantation of the trees to be satisfactory.
In the report placed before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, the Department of Forestry, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, stated that three of the total enumerated trees, however, should be retained where they are, without felling or transplanting, as they do not come in the way of the alignment.
One of these trees is located at Vellara Underground Metro Station (unnumbered tree), while the other two (No.55 and 56) are at Cantonment Underground Metro Station. While saying that the procedure adopted for excavating and transplanting trees is satisfactory, the report also said that different sites identified for transplanting five of the trees were satisfactory.