Bengaluru: In a significant victory for citizens, the govt Wednesday declared 8.6 acres of green cover at Cantonment Railway Colony as a biodiversity heritage site — the second in Bengaluru after Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK).The Rail Land Development Authority proposed to convert the area into a commercial space in collaboration with a real estate firm. However, locals and activists, led by Parisarakkagi Naavu organisation, launched a campaign to safeguard the green cover. Forest minister Eshwar Khandre asked officials to invite suggestions from the public for it to be declared a biodiversity heritage site, as reported by TOI on Sept 4.In response, 15,000 people submitted their views supporting the move, and only two rejected it. The site has over 371 trees belonging to 50 species.
