"The tree felling is pretty much finished.

A survey of Digelu made in 1970 portrayed the town sitting in a forested area where tree felling had just started.

Towards the second half of the 20th century, the activity came down drastically as tree felling was banned or strictly controlled with a view to stop deforestation.

A second wave of tree felling had been underway for a month now, cutting rectangular gashes deep into the jungle around the perimeter of the clearing.

All the major tree felling is now completed (thanks Joe and Graham) and the clearing of the decking is now complete.

The association's approach to tree removal has therefore been cautious, with progressive tree felling being undertaken only where beneficial effects to the site have been observed.

One major problem has been the pressure on the Sherpas to cut down trees for firewood for tourists - previously tree felling had been strictly regulated.

Tree felling was scheduled to minimise disruption to nesting birds and to other wild-life and in certain instances, animals such as dormice were removed to similar habitats elsewhere.

However, in line with the Government's commitment to protect the environment and the ecological system, forestry resources are being managed on a sustainable basis and accordingly the rate of tree felling has been on the decline.

As part of the ongoing development of the Bangalore metro rail, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd has acquired a section of Lal Bagh of around 1,135 m where tree felling is taking place.

Tree felling is controlled through the licensing system managed by the Forestry Commission, public rights of way and access will be unaffected, statutory protection for wildlife will remain in force and there will be grant incentives for new planting that can be applied for.

Former Turner's employees and local residents claimed that, as recently as the 1960s, asbestos dust and fibres were clearly visible hanging from the trees, and that a disused coalmine shaft exposed by the tree felling had been used over a period of decades to dump hundreds of tonnes of asbestos waste.