NGT issues interim stay on steel flyover in Bengaluru

The petitioners alleged that the project has not complied with the legal requirement such as the Environment Impact Assessment

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), southern zone, has issued an interim injunction against the proposed steel flyover planned by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

The petition was filed by Citizen’s Action Forum (CAF) against the Government of Karnataka, BDA and various departments. The NGT has ordered the respondents to submit their response in four week’s time, said representatives of the Forum. V Balasubramanian, former additional chief secretary and vice-chairman of Transparency International, said the NGT has issued an interim stay and has asked the respondents to file their response in four weeks.

The petitioners alleged that the project, which was expected to start in a couple of weeks, has not complied with the legal requirement such as the Environment Impact Assessment and it would have resulted in destruction of around 812 trees.

Besides the BDA should also conduct public hearing before finalising the project, they added. According to earlier reports, the BDA had proposed to work on a flyover, close to seven-kilometre long, with an estimated investment of around Rs 1,400 crore.

However, the project faced opposition as it allegedly involved felling of over 800 trees. Farmers too had opposed the project. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium had reportedly said that ramps may block the view of the sky.

As protests mounted against the project, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George had last week dismissed it as a “political gimmick” and it had taken the decision after consultations with experts and “due diligence”.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had defended the proposed construction of steel flyover calling it “totally transparent” and claimed the project was proposed in 2010 and announced in 2014-15 budget.