Health hazard looms as BBMP ignores clearing up tree litter

Bengaluru: Heavy rain and thundershowers in the first few days of June brought down hundreds of trees and electric poles across Bengaluru, leaving behind a trail of destruction and causing immense damage to properties. But more than the damage induced by nature, citizens across Bengaluru are haunted by the after-effects of these thunderstorms, with fallen branches and trees fast becoming blackspots and breeding sites for mosquitoes and reptiles.
The prolonged delay by BBMP in clearing of debris, broken branches or chopped tree trunks in several localities, even after a week since the damage, has left many citizens miffed. As a result, localities in south and west Bengaluru are dotted by heaps of tree litter, which are gradually becoming a health hazard in the backdrop of monsoon and cloudy conditions across the city. Residents of Jayanagar, Mavalli, JP Nagar, and Banashankari have complained that mosquito breeding has increased ever since BBMP officials left tree litter uncleared.
Padmavathi, a resident of Banashankari, said, “It has been over a week since a huge tree was uprooted near MLC Sharavana’s house, off KR Road. While BBMP officials, led by the joint commissioner, were quick enough to respond and chop the fallen tree into pieces, they haven’t returned to the site even a week on. All the litter, including chopped tree trunks and branches, has been piled up right in front of the house. Over the past few days, passers-by have begun to throw garbage on it. And because of water stagnation, mosquitoes are breeding, besides rats and snakes frequenting the heap for cover. It has been 17 days and despite daily reminders, no BBMP official has bothered to clean it up.”
Locals even complained that a few civic personnel demanded money to take away the chopped bits.
Ravi M, a resident of RR Nagar, said, “As I drove from Banashankari to Jayanagar and Shanthinagar from Banashankari side, heaps of chopped and uncleared tree litter were seen all along. While it blocked footpaths in some places, discarded branches along the roads were obstructing motorists. In some places, leaves from fallen branches were scattered all over the road and it was slippery.”
Shashidhar, yet another resident of south Bengaluru, wrote on social media platform X: “It appears as if the BBMP lacked funds to clear this tree litter after a spell of heavy rains. I wonder, why do they have to waste time on large projects which they cannot even deliver and rather focus on these small issues which make a direct impact on the citizens (sic).”
Transportation trouble
Acknowledging the delay in clearing tree litter in several areas, BLG Swamy, deputy conservator of forests, BBMP, told TOI that all the uncleared fallen branches and trees would be taken away in a day or two. “We’ve also received multiple complaints from citizens. We’re working on a priority basis and cleaning one place after another,” he said.
When asked about the reason for the delay, he pointed out transportation constraints. “We’re facing a delay in transportation of these chopped trees because of heavy traffic around these localities. Nevertheless, the uncleared tree branches will be removed over the next 2-3 days.”
— Rithu Pawar