CHENNAI: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted interim stay against ‘contentious’ steel flyover project in Bengaluru for four weeks and notices were issued to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.
The bench, comprising Justice MS Nambiar and expert member PS Rao, has ordered the interim petition on environmental grounds following a case filed by Citizen Action Forum, which is reportedly backed by BJP MP from Karnataka Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The petitioner counsel alleged that the project demands cutting of over 800 trees.
It is a Rs 1,791 crore project proposed by the BDA to construct a 6.72 km long, 6-lane steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal to ease traffic along a route leading to the international airport.
Vijayan Menon of CAF told Express that the petition had challenged the stance of the State government regarding the project. The State had maintained that environmental clearance was not required for the
project. The Tribunal however, has now directed the State to approach State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, and have an environmental impact assessment report done, he said.
Activist Prakash Belavadi welcomed the decision made by the Tribunal. He said that pressure from civic groups should be sustained against the project.
"We should not be complacent. The movement should continue until the project is cancelled by the State government," he added.
MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said,“Deepavali represents triumph of good over evil and NGT has given Bengaluru it’s Deepavali gift.”
N S Mukunda, the founder president of CAF welcomed NGT's move of granting interim injunction over the flyover project. "This is a great victory for the Bengalurean’s resolve to protect and nurture our city," he added.
It can be recalled that the project has been opposed by some groups, while other groups have come out in favour of the project. Both sides- Steel Flyover Beku and Steel Flyover Beda - have held demonstrations regarding the project over the last couple of weeks.
Recently, the State government even issued a work order for the project.