Save N Lakshman Rau Nursery By Stopping BBMP

This petition was launched to increase awareness and garner support from, environmentally concerned people like you, about the mismanagement by BBMP and the decision by current BBMP Commissioner Mr. K Jairaj to cut down 100s of rare trees that belong to BBMP nursery at Kudlu village, to make space for dumping garbage. We hope that people like you will join us in this protest to save the nursery trees from apathetic officials in our BBMP and to seek a change in the BBMP mindset towards Local residents, Trees and the Environment as a whole.

The following report by Deccan Herald has the details.

30 Years Ago
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It was N Lakshman Rau, during his tenure as the Palike administrator(1975) who took up the initial work on the nursery, which was planned to be constructed over 63 acres. But the greenery has withered away gradually as the Karnataka Composte Development Corporation(KCDC) acquired more area to dump waste. BBMP has decided to convert this Decades-old Nursery at Kudlu village on Hosur Road into a garbage dump yard.

Satellite Image of Nursery in 2001

Present
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The Nursery in 2005 - A Sorry State


BBMP commissioner K Jairaj announced recently that the 14 acres of the nursery land would be handed over to the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC), adjoining the nursery, to dispose city garbage.

The trees will be cut down to make way for garbage. This, despite the fact that the Supreme court has instructed all metros including Bangalore to have a landfill by 2003. The BBMP itself has been talking about a landfill for several years now but they seem to be ignoring an important issue as a permanent landfill for Bangalore.


The red polluted lake next to KCDC is a testimony to the extent of pollution caused. This is toxic KCDC effluents are generated during composting and left into the open without any treatment.

Almost a quarter of the nursery has been encroached upon by KCDC to dump garbage in just 4 years. The current situation is even more grim but we do not have a more recent image to show the destruction or give you an idea about the rapid residential development in the area. How did the KCDC and BBMP get environmental clearance to :
1) Encroach into the Nursery?
2) Dump garbage in a heavily inhabited, residential, area.

Owing to non-availability of land anymore in Bangalore, this area, since, 2003 has seen a number of private layouts and apartments being developed. Most of them approved by BDA. However, the officials are not concerned for the people who reside all around KCDC. A resident near KCDC said the stinking garbage has affected the locals very hard. "We are fearing an epidemic if the garbage is not shifted very soon," Previous protests by the local residents have been plainly ignored by KCDC.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/20/stories/2003082010620300.htm


Please show your support by posting a message that you are opposed to BBMP dumping and Karnataka Composte Development Corporation (KCDC) being situated next to the nursery and in a residential area. Thanks for your concern and care towards the environment. Your actions and support will go a long way in ensuring that our environment remains green and force the BBMP to improve its governance.

Mr K Jairaj We Ask You To...
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1) Shift KCDC and expand the nursery to the original vision of N Lakshman Rau.
2) Immediately find a permanent dumping site far from the hub of the city. Outdie of BBMP limits.
3) Stop disregarding the local residents and act responsibly before our patience runs out.

Take a cue from Bombay that converted a similar garbage dump to what is today a beautiful 37-acre Mahim Nature Park. You will be remembered by everyone for this achievement. We promise you that!

IMPORTANT:
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Please include your e-mail so that we can send you updates. Your e-mails WILL NOT be made public. Please mark the e-mail to be visible to the moderator. We will inform you of any protests that we plan.