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Say no to widening of trees-lined Sankey Road Petition
Written By indian - 13 May, 2010
Bangalore environment Trees Malleswaram Road widening Action Living Pedestrians Sadashivanagar Hasiru Usiru Sankey Road
The proposed six-lane corridor is expected to result in chopping of about 150 well-grown trees. The widening entails felling of about 150 trees on both sides of the stretch, besides occupying a good portion of the historic tank. It'll/It'd destroy the beauty of one of the posh localities of the City.
There's a concern over the threat faced by pedestrians, especially students of four major schools located in the vicinity or close to the proposed corridor - Stella Maris, Poorna Prajna Education Centre, Kendriya Vidyalaya and the Government Boys' School. The safety of schoolchildren on the six-lane high speed corridor would be a major challenge.
The widening will cause damage to the existing green cover on the Sankey Road. The long-term benefits of this corridor are questionable especially when the metro, monorail and HSRL corridors are being planned in the vicinity. The project would cause damage to Sankey Lake. The axing of 150 trees will/would affect the sensitive biodiversity in and around the Sankey Tank.
The rationale of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike or BBMP in constructing a six-lane high-speed corridor in a residential area is questionable and we're yet to know whether pedestrians' safety has been factored in while designing the project plan. The Forum had sought Detailed Project Report from BBMP under Right to Information Act and nothing has been heard even after lapse of three weeks.
Tree-felling should not be a solution to avoid traffic jams. Tree-feeling would lead to ecological imbalance in the surrounding areas.
The cost of the project had allegedly escalated from Rs. 30 crore to Rs. 33 crore due to re-tendering.
Link to e-Petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/say-no-to-sankey-road-widening
COMMENTS
idontspam - 14 May, 2010 - 02:39
the widening is being done without any traffic study of any kind
Underlying problem of the entire planning process!!!
Road widening is the best way to utilize state and central funds
indian - 14 May, 2010 - 13:10
I didn't find enough time to draft/create the petition. I've underlined the important points. Unfortunately not many people will/would sign the proactive petitions.
Civic agencies / bodies in the state and country are getting money in crores (JNNURM / CM's special grants) in the name of development.
They want to concretize all the open spaces and the effect is there for all to see in the form of increased temperatures all over the country.
Most houses in each and every locality / area in each and every city have more than one two-wheeler and at least one car. Sometimes there's more than one car. Most cars are parked 24/7 outside the residences.
silkboard - 13 May, 2010 - 10:37
Some simple questions
- How about alternate solutions to go with the petition?
- And if BBMP signs up to plant 200 trees in Malleswaram and Sadashvinagar in return, will that be an okay deal?
Another petition to force BBMP to do the following will be good
- Establish a cell to study and monitor city's ecology
- List steps taken by BBMP to improve city's greenery
What I am saying is that while one group of people (HU/ESG in the fore) go out reactively, some of us should go in parallel and force pro-active green actions from BBMP.
Trees are as old as 200-300 years
Vasanth - 13 May, 2010 - 11:01
SB, currently traffic volume on this stretch is not high.I have travelled on this road aplenty. It is simply a crazy idea of a corporator / MLA / commissioner just like the Tagore circle.
These trees are as old as 300 years, to get a similar tree, we have to be alive 300 years. Moreover, it gives lot of shade while travelling.
un-scientific road widening is very bad..
srinidhi - 13 May, 2010 - 15:10
the widening is being done without any traffic study of any kind..I have seen the sankey road too..the trees there are beautiful!
The problem is with the Bhashyam circle which has 6 major roads coming together..a solution is needed there at the junction and not with the sankey road!
The problem everywhere in Bangalore is about the junctions and not usually with road widths...but no one ever understands..including the so called experts!
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