In a victory for activists opposing the felling of trees for the proposed multispecialty veterinary hospital on Queen's Road, N Shanthakumar, assistant conservator of forests, BBMP, denied permission for cutting any tree within the premises. In a video of his site visit on Thursday which was uploaded on social media, the ACF announced that he was cancelling the order with immediate effect.
"I am cancelling your order. All engineers and directors should sit at the same table with them (environmentalists) and come up with a plan under which the trees can be saved. I have the power to cancel it; you cannot order me," the ACF allegedly told a man identified as the site engineer.
To the relief of conservationists, the ACF acknowledged the cooling effect of the canopy and offered support to them. He also instructed G Nagendra, deputy director of animal husbandry, to participate in the discussions and hand over the masterplan.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, founder of CJ trust, an animal rights' organization, said the masterplan should be handed over to her and other protesters on Saturday. The group had filed RTIs with the animal husbandry department, forest department and BBMP's animal husbandry cell to release the plans. "For some reason, they are being withheld," she said.
"I am cancelling your order. All engineers and directors should sit at the same table with them (environmentalists) and come up with a plan under which the trees can be saved. I have the power to cancel it; you cannot order me," the ACF allegedly told a man identified as the site engineer.
To the relief of conservationists, the ACF acknowledged the cooling effect of the canopy and offered support to them. He also instructed G Nagendra, deputy director of animal husbandry, to participate in the discussions and hand over the masterplan.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, founder of CJ trust, an animal rights' organization, said the masterplan should be handed over to her and other protesters on Saturday. The group had filed RTIs with the animal husbandry department, forest department and BBMP's animal husbandry cell to release the plans. "For some reason, they are being withheld," she said.