Bengaluru students and environmentalists have raised strong objections to a proposal to cut down 419 trees on Bangalore University’s Jnanabharathi campus to make way for a new academic and research block under the PM‑USHA initiative. The university’s request to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on 16 April for permission to clear trees at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering site has triggered widespread protest.
While the work has yet to begin, areas have been fenced off and undergrowth removed, prompting students to warn of irreversible damage to the biopark’s fragile ecosystem. The Jnanabharathi campus is more than an academic zone—it spans 800 acres of green space housing a biodiversity park with three lakh plants across 300 species, five check dams and eight borewells. Environmental activists describe the park as “a vital ecological asset for the city”. Its importance as a carbon sink and groundwater recharge ground is widely recognised . Student union leaders and conservationists are advocating for the campus to be designated a biodiversity heritage site under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002. In May, the state’s Ecology Ministry formally requested a proposal from the Karnataka Biodiversity Board to that effect.
A retired geology professor and former biopark coordinator emphasised the dramatic loss of green cover since the site was first developed. He highlighted student-led efforts that had created 16 patches of biopark without external funding, cautioning that the remaining forested areas were mere echoes of the original. Earlier this year, proposals such as a 250-metre “skydeck” within the campus faced fierce opposition, with activists pointing out that such developments further fragmented Bengaluru’s urban canopy. In 2022, around 40 trees—many of them medicinal—were felled for a university project, prompting sustained criticism. Defenders of the construction argue that the new academic block—funded under PM‑USHA with ₹100 crore—will support critical modern education spaces and research in areas including artificial intelligence, sustainable development and social equity. University officials stress that only essential trees will be removed and foundations will be optimised to conserve green cover.
They also point to underused land and vertical expansion as alternatives to tree removal . Still, environmentalists say more creative solutions are needed. Suggestions include relocating trees, building vertically, and reclaiming encroached land. One former vice‑chancellor highlighted the precedent set by Bengaluru City University’s vertical expansion, emphasising underused existing buildings as a sensible option. Teachers, non‑teaching staff and residents have also voiced concern. According to student leaders, while no legal petitions have yet been filed, support is growing across the university community. As the debate intensifies, the next steps hinge on BBMP’s decision on tree clearance, the university’s willingness to explore alternatives, and whether the site will be officially recognised as a biodiversity heritage campus. This issue transcends university boundaries—it reflects Bengaluru’s broader struggle to balance urban development with environmental stewardship.
The unfolding controversy highlights a critical tension in city planning: safeguarding ecological assets while meeting educational infrastructure needs. Whether Bengaluru can chart a sustainable growth path will depend on transparent governance, civic engagement, and a willingness to innovate in development models. In a city already grappling with shrinking green cover, the outcome of this dispute may set an important precedent. Authorities, planners, students and citizens will be watching closely as Bengaluru seeks to reconcile its ambition with its environmental legacy.
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