BENGALURU: One of the most-talked-about projects, the short tunnel road, received a setback on Friday. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone Bench, Chennai, which was hearing a case pertaining to the felling of 1,128 trees for the project, issued orders restraining the Karnataka government from felling trees.
The orders are not limited to Hebbal Lake and surrounding areas, but also to the entire stretch of the proposed tunnel road project, till the original application is disposed of. The trees to be felled belong to over 70 species. The next hearing is on December 15.
The tunnel road project from Hebbal to Silk Board and short tunnels are the pet projects of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
The NGT bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member, and Dr Prashant Gargava, Expert Member,was hearing the matter. Advocates Saurabh Sharma and V Anantha Krishnan appeared for the applicants, while advocate Vikram Simha appeared for Karnataka and advocate Vasanth for the Wetland Authority.
‘No nod taken from Wetland Authority’
The 322-page report included details of the project, utilisation of 3.45 acres of Hebbal Lake land and details of the conversation with tree officers under the Karnataka Preservation of Tree Act, 1976. It also included the ongoing hearing by different applicants. Details along with drawings were submitted before the NGT for the hearing.
It was submitted that the Hebbal short tunnel project is 2.2-2.3km underground road project, connecting the Hebbal Flyover/Esteem Mall Junction with the Veterinary College/KVAFSU-GKVK area.
It was submitted that the proposal to fell a substantial number of trees around Hebbal Lake along with excavation, dewatering, construction-related pollution, alteration of surface drainage and use/diversion of watercourses, is being proceeded without obtaining the permission from the Wetland Authority.
The state government has submitted details of proceedings at the State Level Impact Assessment Authority- Karnataka. Before the Karnataka High Court, the government had given an undertaking that no trees would be cut until the approvals were obtained.