The controversy surrounding the construction of a link road through the campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) on the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK) premises here took a new turn when the UAS said it has withdrawn permission for the construction of the road.
The UAS made this statement in the objection it filed to an affidavit by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
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The 9-km-long link road bisects the campus and it is being constructed by the BBMP. The BBMP, in its affidavit had justified the construction, saying that it would connect the Yeshwanthpur-Yelahanka road with Bellary Road.
When the BBMP started road construction, several environmentalists and former Vice-Chancellors of the UAS had opposed it.
They filed a petition in the High Court in 2009 seeking a stay on the road construction. They said the road would spell doom to the fragile ecological system within the campus.
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Damage to germplasm
On its part, the BBMP said the project was not new and it was originally proposed in 2007 as a 100-foot road. The project it said would provide faster access to the international airport apart from cutting travelling time. It said the UAS Board had earlier okayed the project.
The petitioners questioned the rationale behind the road. They said the road would cause immense harm to the valuable germplasm of the university besides leading to chopping of trees. They said the UAS has one of the best collection of botanical plants on 667 acres. Several varieties of flora and fauna exist on the campus.
During the last course of hearing, the BBMP had filed an affidavit and the UAS had sought time to reply.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, the UAS said a recent UAS Board meeting had resolved to rescind permission to the BBMP to go ahead with the road.
The court adjourned further hearing of the case.