Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 27: The felling of 1,500 trees to build the Karnataka Milk Federation’s (KMF) Bull Mother Farm has put environmentalists and green activists to worry.

The Karnataka government sanctioned 100 acres of land for the farm in 2013 at Byatha, a village in Hesaraghatta on the city’s outskirts.

The trees need to be felled as KMF is planning to set up administration and research centres on 25 acres and grass will be grown on the remaining 75 acres.

Environmentalists are worried that felling trees will affect the rich flora and fauna, especially the bird population.

KMF joint director B Mayanna assures that the tree loss will be compensated with afforestation programmes. KMF has deposited Rs 5 lac with the Forest Department which will plant 5,000 saplings, of which 600 have been planted already, he said.

In May this year, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation had felled 30 silver oak trees on the Hesaraghatta Main Road as they feared they were a threat to the power lines.