Bengaluru flyover: Counsel calls for independent study

Petitioners say the construction will cause large ecological damage

The proposed steel flyover in Bengaluru will cause huge ecological damage and needs to be studied by an independent authority, counsel for applicants in the case told the southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal.

The case is likely to see finality soon with counsel making the final submission. The Karnataka government is set to make submissions on Tuesday.

‘Increase in load’

“The DPR submitted by the government itself shows that there are two lakes — the Hebbal lake and the Bengaluru palace lake — on the proposed route. The project is set to come up at less than 20 metres from the Hebbal lake. The Karnataka government’s affidavit itself says that the project falls within the buffer zone [of the lakes],” counsel for Neeliah, one of the applicants, argued.

When Justice M.S. Nambiar asked how the construction would affect the lakes, as the flyover would come up on an already existing route, counsel said it would increase the load and traffic. “It is in fact going to come down exactly at the point near the Hebbal lake,” counsel said.

‘Loss of greenery’

Counsel for Citizens for Bengaluru said projects such as the flyover which involved ecological issues needed to be evaluated by an independent authority. “Also, a steel flyover is a relatively untested concept.”

Counsel for Citizen Action Forum too submitted that the project would lead to a loss of trees and greenery in the city, while pointing out that certain terms mentioned by the government to get the go-ahead were not recognised by the Indian Roads Congress.