Combing Operation 04May2015 of Fallen Trees Bengaluru South #BBMP

 8th may2015 Niveditha Jain, Delayed response by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Forest Cell to the tree fall complaints prompted Jude Rajesh Ferrao, a resident of HRBR Layout, to take matter rather axe into his own hands. The 49-year-old Ferrao procured tree cutting machine five years ago from a dealer at NR Road after the Palike Forest cell didn't bother to clear the tree at his locality despite repeated complaints. "Many trees were uprooted in Banaswadi and other parts of East zone owing to strong winds and heavy showers in 2009. The uncleared trees and branches had led to traffic jams. I called up the BBMP helplines but to no avail. That's when, I decided to take up the task of clearing the fallen trees, of course with the help of locals. I bought the machine on May 27, 2009 for Rs 30,000, " said, Ferrao, a civil defence personnel. Ferrao got into the act of clearing the trees uprooted during thunder showers and monsoon. Till date, he has cleared about 50-60 full-grown trees that had fallen on houses, footpaths and lanes. Recalling his first experience, Ferrao said, "In 2009, a huge tree fell on a house where six people were residing. I got a call from Banaswadi Police (Law and Order) for the rescue operation. I was happy that I could do it successfully and saved lives." The machine weighing about five kilos runs on petrol. "There is maintenance that needs to be done after every use. It has a tank with a capacity of 650 ml and a lubrication tank as well," he added. Ferrao, who is working as deputy division warden at Division 43, Civil Defence for the past four years, said that this season he has cleared 11 trees with his machine. What's more, even the Palike hires his service "We were deputed by the BBMP for clearing tree branches and trees. The machines brought by the Palike workers were not maintained properly. Hence, I preferred using my machine." Ferrao said that he had lodged complaint with BBMP ACF East Sathyanarayana about a full grown tree which is in a bad shape. 'No rights to cut tree' "The tree can collapse any moment. As I do not have the right to cut the tree, I bought it to the notice of the officer (ACF-East Sathyanarayana). But the said official has not bothered to respond," laments Ferrao, who is also the president of Citizens Welfare Association, HRBR 2nd Block.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/476288/this-woodcutter-knows-fix-deep.html

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Fallen tree removed after five days

Bengaluru, May 4, 2015, DHNS:

It was a huge relief for 78-year-old Bhaskar Y on Monday when the BBMP workers finally removed the tree that had fallen on the gate of his house on 12th Cross, Wilson Garden, five days ago. 

Heavy rain and gusty winds brought down the huge tree on Bhaskar’s house around 4.30 pm on April 30. The fallen tree blocked entry and exit points to the house, thus confining the septuagenarian indoors for five days. His ordeal came to an end around 12 noon on Monday when around 30 Home Guards accompanied by 12 personnel from Civil Defence personnel and BBMP workers removed the huge tree after a marathon effort. The operation took around six hours to complete.

 “I was inside home and it was raining heavily. Around 4.30 pm, heard a thud and the tree fell on my house. I was shocked to see the entire gate damaged by the tree. The branches were blocking even the portico by four to five metres,” Bhaskar told Deccan Herald.  

Bhaskar’s son, Sanjay Premak, is furious with Palike. He said that despite several calls none from the BBMP took immediate action. 

“My father is very old and lives alone. It was difficult for him to stay for five days inside. Since I just live one lane away from him, I used to meet and deliver food to him. I had to jump the four-foot compound wall of the house to meet my father,” his said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/475686/fallen-tree-removed-five-days.html

May 05 2015 : Mirror (Bangalore)

Staff crunch hampers tree clearance

Atul Chaturvedi atul chaturvedi2 TWEETS @atulchaturvedi





The civic authority will take the help of nearly 200 civil defence personnel and 300 home guards in the coming days and monsoon

The southern part of Bengaluru was most affected in the heavy rains and gusty winds that felled plenty of trees in the last week. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is finding it difficult to remove the fallen trees and clear the roads. After four days of the recent damage, the BBMP has decided to take the help of civil defence officials and home guards to clear the fallen trees.The staff strength of the BBMP is not sufficient to take up the work in the area. Earlier, there were 17 officials led by the chief conservator of forests, divisional forest officer, two assistant conservators of forests and six deputy range forest officers. Not a single range forest officer is at present posted at the BBMP. The BJPled elected body in BBMP decided to repatriate all the officers including the chief conservator of forests. There is only one DFO, two ACFs and six deputy RFOs now engaged with the BBMP. The depleted staff is not in a position to handle the emergency treeclearing chore.
Over 350 trees in South Bengaluru alone came crashing down in the recent downpour. The BBMP designated two contractor teams to work exclusively in the zone and it had taken help from other contractors too. On Sunday, one contactor was booked for illegally transporting fallen trees.
An official said, “Each BBMP zone had 13 tree canopy teams. South zone had two teams with around 18 members working in two shifts, but this became insufficient after a single day's rains that uprooted several trees.“
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Bhaskar said, “We have sought help from civil defence and home guards departments. In the next two days, all the trees and debris will be cleared. Around 200 civil defence staff and more than 300 home guards will be enrolled for this particular work.“
37 NEW PRAHARIS TO BE INCLUDED
Bhaskar maintained that the BBMP is having a shortage of staff who could take up rainrelated extra work on priority.“Help from members of civil defence and home guards will be taken for the next three months. This apart, BBMP has around 10 Prahari teams functioning in 800 sq km, which is very little. We have decided to induct another 37 Prahari teams. I have also ordered to purchase power chain saw cutting machines, which is mainly used for cutting trees. Each power chain saw costs around Rs 20,000.“
A B Hemachandra, joint commissioner (South) said, “I toured South Bengaluru to see the number of fallen trees.Trees have fallen in huge numbers. There are also several issues like shortage of tippers and trucks to transport the chopped up trees. I have been given some teams to clear fallen trees. On Monday, some civil defence personnel have been helping with the task.Nearly 50% work is completed.The remaining will be cleared in the next two days,“ he said.

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/index.aspx?eid=31820&dt=20150505

After Four Days, BBMP Finally Rescues Trapped Elderly Man

By Express News Service

Published: 05th May 2015  

• Bhaskar (right) who was confined inside his house for four days after a tree fell on the gate to his house | JITHENDRA M

BENGALURU: In a shocking case of apathy, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) delayed help to a 78-year-old man left trapped in his house for close to four days.

He was finally rescued on Monday evening.

During last Thursday’s thundershowers, a tree fell on the gate of Y Bhaskar’s residence in Wilson Garden, rendering it impossible for the former MICO employee to come out of his house.

“On Thursday evening, a tree that was already weak fell on the gate. After this, I couldn’t leave my house. My son, who stays close by, brought food and water and gave it to me through a window. He also complained several times to the BBMP, but they never came.

“I stay alone at home, and it was a scary experience. As soon as it happened, I called my son. If they (BBMP) cannot help out in times of need, what is the point?” Bhaskar asked.

Bhaskar’s son Sanjay, who works at a private company, was livid.

“What if something serious had happened? Would the BBMP have taken the blame? We called them continuously from Thursday. Only today (Monday) they said somebody would come. Otherwise, they kept telling us that since such incidents had taken place in many places across the city, they had to go about the process one step at a time. However, they should have informed us that it would take time. Keeping us on tenterhooks wasn’t right. We had to drag the BBMP and the civil defence personnel here to rescue my father,” he said.

When contacted, BBMP Administrator T M Vijay Bhaskar said he had no idea about the incident.

“I do not know about this. I will conduct an inquiry and ensure that necessary action is taken,” he said.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/After-Four-Days-BBMP-Finally-Rescues-Trapped-Elderly-Man/2015/05/05/article2798159.ece

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Tree-fall-BBMP-apathy-jail-man-for-96-hours/articleshow/47156077.cms

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/475686/fallen-tree-removed-five-days.html

400 ಮರಗಳ ತೆರವಿಗೆ ಮುಗಿಯದ ಸರ್ಕಸ್‌

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು: ನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದ ಗುರುವಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಎರಡು ದಿನಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಸುರಿದ ಭಾರಿ ಮಳೆಗೆ ಧರೆಗುರುಳಿದ್ದ 400ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮರಗಳ ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆ ಸೋಮವಾರವೂ ಮುಂದುವರೆದಿದ್ದು, ತೆರವಿಗೆ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಪರದಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ನಗರದ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಹಾಗೂ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಳೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ 400ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮರಗಳು ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದವು. ಈ ಮರಗಳ ತೆರವು ಶುರುವಾಗಿ 4 ದಿನ ಕಳೆದರೂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ತೆರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆ ಚುರುಕು ನೀಡಲು 400ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾ ಗೃಹ ರಕ್ಷಕ ದಳ ಮತ್ತು ಪೌರ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ, ಅಗ್ನಿಶಾಮಕ ದಳದ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸೋಮವಾರ ಮರಗಳ ತೆರವಿಗೆ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೂ ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯ ಪೂರ್ಣಗೊಳ್ಳದೆ ಮಂಗಳವಾರವೂ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಕಳೆದ 5 ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮರಗಳು ಬಿದ್ದಿವೆ. ಗುರುವಾರ 300 ಹಾಗೂ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ 100ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮರ ಹಾಗೂ ಕೊಂಬೆಗಳು ನೆಲಕ್ಕುರುಳಿದ್ದವು. ಮರಗಳು ಬಿದ್ದು 5 ದಿನಗಳಾದರೂ ತೆರವು ಮಾಡದ ಕಾರಣ ವಿಲ್ಸನ್‌ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್‌, ಸಿದ್ದಾಪುರ, ಗಾಂಧಿನಗರ, ಎಂ.ಜಿ.ರಸ್ತೆ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಮತ್ತಿತರ ಕಡೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಹನ ಸವಾರರು ಮತ್ತು ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳು ಪರದಾಡುವಂತಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಬರಲೂ ಪರದಾಟ: ವಿಲ್ಸನ್‌ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಸ್ಕರ್‌ ಎಂಬುವರ ಮನೆಯ ಗೇಟ್‌ ಮುಂಭಾಗ ಗುರುವಾರ ಮರ ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದು, ಸೋಮವಾರದವರೆಗೆ ತೆರವು ಮಾಡಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಕಂಟ್ರೋಲ್‌ ರೂಂಗೆ ನಾಲ್ಕೈದು ಬಾರಿ ದೂರು ನೀಡಿದ್ದರೂ, ಮರ ತೆರವಿಗೆ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಂಡಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಕಾರಣದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಕಳೆದ 5 ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಭಾಸ್ಕರ್‌ ಮತ್ತವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರು ಮನೆಯ ಕಾಂಪೌಂಡ್‌ನಿಂದ ಹೊರ ಬರಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಪಡಿಪಾಟಲು ಪಡುವಂತಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಸೋಮವಾರ ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತುಕೊಂಡ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಮರ ತೆರವು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಕೊರತೆ ಕಾರಣ: ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ ಇರುವುದೇ ಮರ ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆ ವಿಳಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣ. ಹಿಂದೆಲ್ಲ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಮಳೆ ಬಂದರೆ ಗರಿಷ್ಠವೆಂದರೆ 100 ಮರಗಳು ಬೀಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಆದರೆ, ಗುರುವಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಶುಕ್ರವಾರದ ಮಳೆಗೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆಲೇ 400ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮರ ಮತ್ತು ಕೊಂಬೆಗಳು ಬಿದ್ದಿವೆ. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮರ ತೆರವು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಮತ್ತಿತರ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ತಲಾ 20 ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳನ್ನೊಳಗೊಂಡ 11 ತಂಡಗಳಿವೆ. ಇವರಿಂದ ಒಮ್ಮೇಲೇ ಇಷ್ಟು ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ ಮರ ತೆರವು ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಕಾರಣದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಮರ ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಳಂಬವಾಗಿದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ಸೋಮವಾರದಿಂದ ಗೃಹ ರಕ್ಷಕ ದಳ, ಸಿವಿಲ್‌ ಡಿಫೆನ್ಸ್‌ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳ ನೆರವಿನಿಂದ ಮರ ತೆರವುಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಮಂಗಳವಾರದ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆ ಪೂರ್ಣಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮರ ಬಿದ್ದಿರುವ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ವಲಯದ ಉಪ ವಲಯ ಅರಣ್ಯಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಪುಟ್ಟಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಗೌಡ ಉದಯವಾಣಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ
ಮರ ತೆರವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ವಿಳಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಆಡಳಿತಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ವಿಜಯ್‌ ಭಾಸ್ಕರ್‌ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಘಟಕದ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಭಾನುವಾರ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ಇನ್ನೆರಡು ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮರ ತೆರವು ಪೂರ್ಣ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಸೂಚಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿ ಸಚಿವ ರಾಮಲಿಂಗಾರೆಡ್ಡಿ ಕೂಡ ಆಡಳಿತಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸಮಾಲೋಚನೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದರು.

ಮರ ಕಳ್ಳತನ: ಶಾಸಕರಿಂದ ದೂರು
ಜಯನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರವುಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಗಿದ್ದ ಬೃಹತ್‌ ಗಾತ್ರದ ಮರಗಳನ್ನು ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರರೊಬ್ಬರು ಭಾನುವಾರ ಅಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಖುದ್ದು ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಶಾಸಕ ಬಿ.ಎನ್‌.ವಿಜಯಕುಮಾರ್‌ ಪೊಲೀಸರಿಗೆ ದೂರು ನೀಡಿದ್ದರು. ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಮರ ತೆರವಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಅಕ್ರಮ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅನುಮಾನ ಮೂಡಿದೆ.

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