Kalasipalya bus depot will no more make 8,000 parakeets homeless

BENGALURU: The modern bus terminus coming up in Kalasipalya will not make 8,000 parakeets residing in 32 trees surrounding Sri Lokamatha Ayyappa Temple homeless. Reason: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has modified their plan that would require felling of only nine trees out of 32, thereby saving the rest for the parakeets to roost peacefully.
After Vijay Nishanth, tree committeemember at urban conservationist, and Tharangini Bala, photographer and naturalist, documented the entire area for over three days and handed over a letter with the print out of the photo story to Ekroop Caur, managing director at BMTC on January 3, she took immediate action to save as many trees as possible from felling and presented a modified plan on January 18.
Tharangini Bala said: “We are really happy to receive so much of co-operation and understanding from BMTC in this matter. Not only had the officials personally visited the site and seen the parakeets in their roosting but they have also altered the plans to save 70% of the trees in that area. They have pulled in a platform and eliminated the roofs in another place to ensure more trees are saved. They have also given us a copy of their modified plan.”
“Only 9 out of the 32 trees that come right in the middle of the construction will have to be cut. To compensate, they are also planting trees along the periphery of the bus station. This planting will start as soon as the foundation is laid, so that by the time the bus station is ready, the trees would also grow. For this they will be consulting on the type of trees to plant, fast growing with good canopy so that the parakeets can get back their roosts,” she added.