The State Government has sought to allay apprehensions of environmentalists and nature lovers by clarifying that the high-speed rail link would not touch Hebbal Lake.
The State has made this point clear in an affidavit it filed before the Karnataka High Court detailing the steps it had taken with regard to the project, the project cost and the proposed alignment.
In the affidavit, the Principal Secretary to the Department of Infrastructure Development, V. Madhu, said the rail line at Hebbal would be at least 50 metres away from the edge of the lake.
He said the Bangalore Airport Rail link ltd,. (BARL), which has been entrusted with the project, has said that the alignment now marked does not touch any portion of Hebbal lake. The rail link and even the station planned at the area would be situated at a minimum distance of 50 metres from the edge of the lake.
Samarpana, a non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) of Bangalore has alleged that the project would not only destroy the sanctity of the lake but also lead to massive pollution and destruction of the fragile eco-system.
Samarpana, represented by its advocate G.R. Mohan, has alleged that the BARL will construct a check-in station on 6 acres of land belonging to the lake. Mr. Mohan says the project would sound the death knell of the water body.
Countering these allegations, Mr. Madhu said in the affidavit that Hebbal Lake is situated on two survey numbers-no 37 of Kodigehalli comprising 99.33 acres and No. 38 of Hebbal comprising 92.26 acres. The check-in station will not be located in any of these survey numbers. Besides, the HSRL corridor passes through survey numbers other than those on which the lake is located.
He said the link would have two lines and it is designed to run at 160 kmph and the distance from the Police Parade Grounds to BIAL would be covered in 25 minutes. He said the rail link is designed for carrying 11,500 peak hour peak direction traffic (phpdt). This means that HSRL can ferry 2 lakhs passengers a day over a 19-hour period.
The affidavit says that the project would not touch Hebbal Lake at any point and, therefore, there is no question of any environmental damage to the one of the few surviving water bodies in Bangalore.
