A number of civic groups on Saturday petitioned the State Environmental Impact Assessment Agency (SEIAA) not to carry out an Environment Impact Assessment on the network of elevated corridors planned for Bengaluru. Their argument is that the project violates planning laws.
The petition, signed by Citizens for Bengaluru, Bengaluru Eco Team, Environment Support Group, and BMTC Bus Prayanikara Vedike, described the corridor as a piecemeal project that was not part of any master plan, whose implementation would be in violation of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1962. As an alternative, they argued for a comprehensive mobility plan for the city, formulated after public consultations.
“When projects are sent for clearance without following the planning laws, and are sent piecemeal for approval, how does the SEIAA look at the overall impact on the environment of the city?” the petitioners asked.
#PublicConsulationBeku
Civic groups on Saturday launched a postcard campaign titled #PublicConsulationBeku. They pointed out that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and his deputy G. Parameshwara have repeatedly assured them that projects would be taken up after public consultation and that their “doors were always open”.
“However, the government has gone ahead with both the elevated corridor and steel flyover projects, and is yet to call any public consultation. We call on the citizens to write a postcard to the CM and the DCM asking for public consultations on infrastructure projects,” a statement from the groups said.
