BENGALURU: DESPITE thousands of citizens opposing the proposed steel flyover, the government is firm on going ahead with it. Chief Minister Siddaramaih on Monday stated that suggestions and opinions from citizens were invited in June. However, the battle is not over yet for citizens as various citizen groups are planning ways to stop the project.
A PIL has already been filed in the court and the government has to respond to it insix weeks.
Siddaramaiah said when the government sought suggestions from public in June, they had received 299 responses, out of which 73 per cent had voted for the project.
Architect Naresh V Narasimhan, one of the key persons spearheading the protest, said, “The voice of 299 seems to be more important than the 8,000 citizens who came out opposing the project. Now, we need to decide about our further course of action. In fact, the National Highways Authority of India too is not in favour of the project. We still have time as they have to serve notice and acquire land for the project.”
“The project goes over the Kempegowda fort, which is a protected monument. The Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961, states that no construction can take place within 200 metres from a protected monument unless permission is granted. Until they get clearance from the Archeological department, the government cannot do anything,” he added.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, executive director, Leadership and Board Practice, RGF Executive Search India, said, “When I last heard, Democracy is by, of and for the people. I am shocked by the CM’s response. Does it mean that 8,000 people physically on the ground, citizen voices via over 25,000 signatures not worth listening to? This jaw-dropping obduracy implies that a deeper investigation is needed. People are furious - and I felt the pulse as I walked through the human chain. Citizens now will not stop their fight until the project is stalled. We refuse to be passive pawns in a gigantic chess board where our city, heritage and greenery are collateral damage.”
Urban expert Ashwin Mahesh said, “The court has not said OK to it yet. Besides, it is the government that has maintained that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has no role to play. However, the NGT has not said anything on that.”