The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tree auction fetches paltry sum

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Friday, Jul 24, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tree auction fetches paltry sum

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Trees that were axed for taking up development work in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: A total of 675 trees were cut in Bangalore city in 2007-08, while 297 trees were chopped in 2008-09 for road-widening.

But what raised eyebrows in the Legislative Council when Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa disclosed this while replying to JD (S) member M. Srinivas was the fact that these trees had been auctioned for a paltry sum.

The 675 trees, which were chopped in 2007-08, fetched revenue of only Rs. 5.73 lakh, while 297 trees were auctioned for Rs. 15.9 lakh the next year.

When the Opposition members expressed concern over this, the Chief Minister said under the present system, the Government was not cutting the trees.

It was only auctioning the trees that were meant to be chopped to make way for development works. But the bidders were smart and they had formed cartels to ensure that trees were auctioned for a throw-away price.

He said the Government was thinking of asking the Public Works Department itself to cut the trees in future and sell them later if the tree contractors bid for a paltry sum.

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