Now Reading: NGT halts tree felling for Hebbal Short Tunnel Project
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NGT halts tree felling for Hebbal Short Tunnel Project
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday, 16 October 2026, ordered a halt to all tree cutting for the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project in Bengaluru until the matter is disposed of. The tribunal stated that no trees should be cut in any area of the project during this period.
The order came after a civic group filed an application, pointing out that an earlier undertaking by the Advocate-General before the Karnataka High Court about not cutting trees applied only to Lalbagh, not the entire project. The NGT has scheduled the next hearing for 15 December.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has said it plans to translocate 1,072 of the 1,128 trees marked for removal and axe the rest. Civic groups argue that such a decision can only be taken by the Tree Expert Committee.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The NGT order effectively freezes the project's tree removal for at least two months, until the next hearing on 15 December. This buys time for civic groups to present their case against the BDA's plan to fell trees along the 2.3-km twin tunnel alignment. The dispute over jurisdiction, whether the BDA or the Tree Expert Committee can decide on tree removal, remains unresolved. The key question is what evidence the BDA will present at the December hearing to justify its proposal.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
