Bengaluru: 4 weeks? Forever? Steel flyover won't fly!

BENGALURU: Conservationists and environmentalists who have fought tooth and nail against the hapless Siddaramaiah government's plans to construct a Rs 1800 crore steel flyover that would have run from the tree-lined Chalukya Circle to the Hebbal trumpet junction were celebrating as the South Bench of the National Green Tribunal (Chennai) placed a four week interim injunction on the project on Friday.

With this order, the state government’s plans to issue a work order to the contractor — L&T - is on hold. Though the state government continues to be committed to taking up the project, it must, willy-nilly, wait for four weeks to know the fate of the project  and cannot issue the work order on November 1, as originally planned, said V. Balasubramaniam, one of the key petitioners.

Hardcore critic of the flyover project, Rajya Sabha member, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said: “NGT has given Bengaluru its Deepavali gift.”

Welcoming the NGT injunction, Balasubramaniam said: "The government cannot proceed with the project unless they answer the queries raised by the petitioners. Environment Impact Assessment study is legally mandatory for any such project as is holding a public consultation and answering the queries raised by the public. There was a kind of indecent haste with which the state government was proceeding with the project,” he said.
     
Petitioners N.S. Mukunda, founder president of Citizens Action Forum (CAF) and former IAS officer V. Balasubramaniam challenged the government's unilateral decision to take up Rs 1,791 crore project proposed by the BDA to construct a 6.72 km long, 6-lane steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal to ease traffic along a route leading to the international airport.

Further, the cost of the project swelled with the government's plan to extend the flyover till Esteem mall.  

 The interim order opens the door to the scrutiny of steel flyover project which is what citizens have been asking for from the state government. The unwillingness of the government to listen to the voice of citizens and to impose a bureaucratic solution, forced the public to approach the court said Mr. Mukunda. “Their method is undemocratic,” he said.

“The government should have full consultation and not selective ones. The state government should come up with solution which is acceptable to all the section of the society. We are very unhappy."

“I feel the government has to start yielding to public pressure. Now, the court and lakhs of people have opposed. However, city in-charge minister K. J. George commands clout at the highest level of the party and he will try to push the project through. We are getting a lot of traction for alternatives,” he added. The petition ran into 26 pages.

What the petitioner said
The government has failed to obtain an Environment Impact Assessment report.

Cutting 812 trees are real crime. The traffic congestion leads to air and environment pollution too during the construction period. These were the strong reasons for us to approach the court and take the project to a logical conclusion.

The state government must come up with worthwhile projects which help the public and commuters.

This is a huge victory for scores of Bengalureans who have relentlessly been protesting against the government's move to build the steel monster. We thank Citizens Action Forum and V Balasubramanian, ex-chief secretary for getting this wonderful victory. Namma Bengaluru Foundation welcomes the NGT's interim stay order on the implementation of BDA's proposed flyover. We perceive this as civil society's victory. All eyes will now lie on the High Court, which is slated to hear NBF's PIL challenging the project on November 2— Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation

We are delighted and grateful to the National Green Tribunal that the citizens voice has been heard. It may be a short respite but it's a welcome one and a much needed shot in the arm. The volunteers are all geared up to sustain this citizen movement. The city will always be protected by its warriors — Priya Chetty-Rajagopal,founding member, Citizens for Bangalore

The attitude of the government not to listen to the voice of citizens and try to impose political and bureaucratic solutions, forcing public to approach court is undemocratic— N. S. Mukunda,founder president, Citizens Action Forum

There was a kind of indecent haste with which the state government was proceeding with the project— V. Balasubramaniam,Petitioner

Deepavali represents triumph of good over evil and NGT has given Bengaluru its Deepavali gift— Rajeev Chandrasekhar,MP

Blow to CM: To look at all options
Hours after the National Green Tribunal Chennai bench granted a four week injunction on the project, citing lack of environment clearance, CM Siddaramaiah went into a huddle with Bengaluru Development Minister, K.J. George, additional chief secy, Mahendra Jain and BDA commissioner Dr Rajkumar Khatri. The state government may decide to put off the foundation laying ceremony that was scheduled for the first week of November. They will wait for 4 weeks to explore how best to meet the criteria set by the NGT.