SUO MOTU Vs. GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The issue regarding the unfettered felling of trees was brought to the notice of this Court by a letter dated 06/11/2011 addressed by Justice Sri. D.V. Shylendra Kumar, expressing his concern over the unregulated felling of trees in the garb of development and road widening in the City of Bangalore. This Court has taken up the issue as a suo-motu public interest petition for consideration. The prayers sought for in the petition are as follows:--

(2.) This Court has examined the entire issue in relation to the decline in environment quality due to the increasing pollution with the reduction of tree cover in the City of Bangalore and recognizing the need to take precautionary measures to ensure that the Green cover of the city of Bangalore is protected and enhanced, keeping in mind, the intergenerational equity with a vision for the future.

(3.) In the course of hearing the petition, the BBMP through its statement of objections, has brought to our notice that the Tree Authority has been constituted vide Government Notification dated 11/06/2008 produced at ANNEXURE 'R4'.