Tree vandalisation, suspect - Lifestyle

Malls are a reality in today's world, whether one is prepared to accept them or not. While the main grouse against them is that they cause severe congestion, particularly when located at already busy traffic junctions without sufficient attention having been paid to channelise the increased traffic flow, there would, on the other hand, certainly be a fairly large section of the local population who welcome their presence in such close proximity. The Oasis mall in Koramangala is one such, about which debates on similar lines can go on endlessly. As far as I was concerned, what made the Oasis mall generally acceptable was its overall pleasing appearance - not so imposing, not too garish; the wide set back from the road; fair amount of parking space (though one needs to have quite some expertise to go up the steep ramps); and, most of all, the row of trees planted along the neatly paved pathway in front. The trees towards the Southern half (closer to the Sony World jn) had generally grown to over 10 ft height, while the ones towards the Northern half were still 2 to 3 ft high plants. Overall, they provided a much needed green touch to the glass, steel and concrete edifice.

But, alas, somebody seems to have suddenly decided that these beautiful trees were coming in the way of their business interests, and surreptitiously gone about cutting out rings around the bark of the trunks, deep enough to ensure that they would collapse with one strong breeze. And, that is exactly what has happened, with two of them reduced to some 3 ft high stumps, and a third one well on its way to being reduced to a stump also. I have captured it all it all at here (click for flickr photoset). These pictures were taken as I walked along the path from North to South (towards Sony World jn), and a few, as I waiked back.

Apparently, the trees / plants had been planted, and were being nurtured, by the Oasis property management. When I talked to the man in-charge, he himself expressed anguish, claiming he was originally from Malnad, and thereby a great lover of trees. He tried to pass off the blame on BBMP. But, I would place my suspicion on LIFESTYLE, who occupy the ground and first floors of the complex, and the visibility of whose huge display windows these poor trees were apparently blocking.

No way can such reasons be accepted - they either learn to live with trees or shut shop - that's what I would like to say. My attempt to reach the LIFESTYLE manager through the 'Malnadina maga' has not succeded so far.

Muralidhar Rao

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