Examine ill-effects of Conocarpus trees before future plantation, Karnataka High Court directs GBA

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to consider the ill-effects of planting saplings of Conocarpus trees, which cause serious respiratory illness, as has been highlighted in a PIL petition before taking up any future plantation of saplings of this species.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha issued the direction while disposing of a petition filed by Sharanu M, a city-based advocate.

CEC recommendation

It has been pointed out in the petition that Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have already prohibited the planting of saplings of Conocarpus species after the Supreme Court-appointed committee recommended a nationwide ban on planting saplings of this species.

The committee had said that during the flowering season, Conocarpus trees release pollen, which may aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma, rhinitis, and other allergic reactions, particularly in children and the elderly. The ‘deep and aggressive root system’ system of this tree can extract significant amounts of groundwater, impacting nearby vegetation and water availability, the report had stated.

Native trees

It has been alleged in the petition that though the GBA had given contract for planting native trees, many contractors have planted Conocarpus species in several areas.

While directing the GBA to consider the issues raised by the petitioner, the Bench said that it does not consider apposite to pass any order on petitioner’s plea for removing the already planted saplings of this species while leaving it open to the authorities to take appropriate decision.