BENGALURU, 20 JUNE

State Forest Minister, Eshwar Khandre, has called on forest officials to identify and prune branches of hazardous trees during the monsoon season. This directive follows the tragic death of 29-year-old Akshay, who was killed when a tree branch fell on him.

Khandre highlighted that tall and shallow-rooted trees are particularly vulnerable to falling during heavy rains and winds, exacerbated by concrete, stone slabs, and tiles restricting root water absorption. He noted the National Green Tribunal's orders on this issue, along with an official state government directive. 

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been instructed to remove concrete structures around trees and to ensure a soil radius of one metre when planting saplings. Khandre urged local bodies, the Highway Authority, and the Horticulture Department to act on this.