The chat room: Flyover, a recipe to slash green cover, increase pollution'
It was a day that saw the city rising against the proposed steel flyover between Chalukya Circle and Hebbal. As thousands formed a human chain to protest the project, theatre and film personality, Prakash Belawadi was in the thick of it all. An active member of a voluntary group, Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), which represents multitude concerns of the people, he is keeping busier than usual of late. “Extremely tired and busy,” he smiles when asked about his day. But he agrees to share his thoughts on the planned 6.7 km steel bridge, which is threatening to do away with over 800 trees and cost the city in crores. “You know what I think? I think it is against Bengalureans and Bengaluru,” he says without hesitation.
“I have been stressing that the proposed project is being undertaken without due consultation as required by the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961. The consultation done by the BDA in June was a sham. It claims it received 299 responses by e-mail and telephone and 73 per cent approved the proposal. But the BDA in its original notification of June 27 did not specify the details of the project, such as the loss of green cover and the intended public space acquisition. So what were the 219 responses approving?” he asks with exasperation.
Moreover, he goes on, green and heritage spaces of the city like the Bangalore Golf Club, Carlton House, and Balabrooie Guest House are under imminent threat of damage. “The flyover will not only destroy the aesthetic experience of the drive along the stretch but add to vehicular pollution. Some experts even believe it will raise the city’s temperature by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius and also block out sunlight and prevent air flow. It will affect the health of the people,” he warns,warming up to his argument.
Showing the letter mailed to the Governer by Citizens for Bengaluru, appealing to him to cancel the tender for the flyover, he notes that nearly 35,000 people have signed online petitions against its construction and, over 100,000 tree lovers have objected to it by giving a missed call to an organisation called Jhatkaa.
“Also a Public Interest Litigation has been filed against the project by Namma Bengaluru Foundation in the High Court of Karnataka, and thousands of people are putting their names and signatures on ballot papers across Bengaluru saying 'NO,” “BEDA” to the flyover even as we speak, but still the Bengaluru Development Authority is going ahead with it. It's shocking. We have requested the Governor to immediately intervene and order an inquiry into the project. It is a gross waste of our tax money. Citizens for Bengaluru will not rest till this tender is cancelled,” he signs off emphatically.
