The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a PIL petition challenging construction of a steel bridge at Shivananda Circle.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice H.G. Ramesh and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar issued the direction on a PIL petition filed by B.P. Mahesh and 19 others, who live near Shivananda Circle.
Earlier, the bench asked the government counsel why the work on the steel bridge should not be stopped till the government considered the earlier representation pending before it since August 17. The bench made this observation after it was pointed out by the petitioner’s counsel that the Addition Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD), who was given two months’ time to take a decision on the representation, has been repeatedly adjourning hearing the representation and had failed to adhere to the court’s August 7 order to take a decision within two months.
At this stage, the government counsel said that the Additional Chief Secretary (UDD) will take a decision on the earlier representation, submitted as per the HC’s August 7 order in another PIL petition, on or before November 2 after hearing the petitioners.
Further hearing was adjourned till November 3.
Among several other objections, the petitioners claimed that the steel bridge project was approved contrary to law as it was not part of the master plan and no environment impact assessment was conducted.
