Meera Bhardwaj:
The Karnataka High Court (on 17.12.2025) has directed that “No trees standing in the Bengaluru Cantt Railway Colony shall either be cut or damaged.” On December 15, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Karnataka High Court by former minister A T Ramaswamy and President, People for Environment (Parisarakagi Navu) and three others – N Parvathamma, Parashuramegowda, and Maheshwarappa H B.
The PIL had called for setting aside the Karnataka Government Notification for Withdrawal of “Biodiversity Heritage Site” tag for Bengaluru Cantt Railway Colony and further preserve the 371 trees standing in the premises of the Railway Colony and also requested the High Court to direct the Railway authorities not to precipitate matters by felling any of the 371 trees.
Last week, the state government withdrew the notification (06.12.2025) of Bengaluru Cantt Railway Colony declaration as a “Biodiversity Heritage Site” and said it was not done under any undue pressure as the green area of 8.61 acres fell under the Railway Ministry.
GREEN OASIS IN BENGALURU CANTT
The 8.61-acre huge green space inside the Bengaluru Cantt Railway Colony is located in the heart of Bengaluru and is a very significant lung space for the city. With this green space home to 371 trees, environmentalists and activists opposed the felling of 368 trees (in the public consultations called on 20.5.2025 by BBMP tree officer).
There are 50 different species with many of them being 60-80 years old and of rare, heritage value. It is also a place of cultural and historical significance as Mahatma Gandhi had interacted with freedom fighters in this place.
BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE ISSUE
In the wake of opposition to the massive felling of trees for a proposed commercial building here, the state govt had notified it as a Biodiversity Heritage Site in September (10.9.2025) this year. However, the withdrawal of this notification in December drew widespread criticism from citizens, activists and various sections of the society.
Speaking to Green Minute News, A T Ramaswamy, the four-time MLA from Arkalgud said, “How could the state govt withdraw the notification and how could they sacrifice this green space which is actually a deemed forest as per apex court orders in the Godavarman case? Were they not aware this land came under the Railway Department? And as per Forest minister Eshwar Khandre, the Railways will protect the 400 trees but relocate them . The statements made by the government is irresponsible as there are so many alternative sites available in Bengaluru that has no trees.”
BENGALURU BEARING THE BRUNT OF DEVELOPMENT
He further added, “This is all an eyewash, now, till date how many saplings have the Railways planted for every tree they have felled for their innumerable projects? It looks as if they are planning to hand over the permission to fell these heritage trees and hand over the land to the Bagmane Texworth Pvt Ltd. Till date, they have not implemented the High Court directions of forming a Tree Authority for Bengaluru Urban. Environmental damage in Bengaluru is so massive that green cover has declined from 72 percent in 1973 to a mere 3 percent in 2025.”
In fact, a very comprehensive report on “Trees of Bengaluru” by Indian Institute of Science states that the vegetation cover shows a decline from 72 percent in 1973 to 21 percent in 2010; however, there was 585 percent growth in the built-up area during the last four decades preceding 2014, with a decline of vegetation by 66 percent and water bodies by 74 percent.
Bengaluru City has witnessed a 1,078 percent increase in paved surfaces and 88 percent drop in vegetation cover; that in 1973, nearly 70 percent of Bengaluru’s geographical area was under green cover, which has now been reduced to less than 3 percent.
The next hearing on the Bengaluru Cantt Railway Colony Tree felling issue is slated for February 13, next year. The High Court also directed that any statement of objections should be filed within two weeks.