Tree felling issue takes a political turn in Thrikkakara
The Hindu
Differences between IUML and Congress back in focus
A day after the Thrikkakara Municipal Secretary lodged a police complaint about unauthorised felling of trees, the councillor of the division from which the trees were found missing has dubbed the complaint as politically motivated.
Municipal Secretary N.K. Krishnakumar had petitioned the police about the unauthorised felling of trees in division 35 of the municipality.
Sajeena Akbar, the division councillor of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a constituent of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), claimed that she had already written to the tree committee for cutting a few trees after local residents complained that they posed danger to life and property. “But there wasn’t timely action and instead I was asked to fell the trees at my expense and then to produce the bill to get it reimbursed. Subsequently, a few trees were felled during May-June when there was heavy rain and wind,” she said.
The fear of being caught for traffic rule violation has indeed compelled many two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. But one cursory look at riders at any traffic junction in Bengaluru shows that more than half the riders have on their heads non-standard helmets, designed solely to evade the eye of law, with little concern for the safety of their own heads.