NGT stay on steel flyover continues

 

The Tribunal gave its verdict to continue with the stay on steel flyover till December 6. 

 

After hearing the plea for an hour, where the representatives of the Karnataka government put forth their arguments, the NGT gave its ruling. Next hearing on the case will he held on December 6.

 

Reacting on the issue to Suvarna News, Vidyadhar, one of the complainants against building steel flyover said, “India signed the Paris Agreement on October 2, this year. Accordingly, it has to try to lower its carbon emission by 2 degree centigrade. Building a steel flyover will add to the temperature of the environment. Extending Metro service is the best alternative. Government do not even have to acquire additional land to extend the metro tracks,”

 

Earlier, the High Court had put a stay on construction of steel flyover on November 3. Even before that, Earlier the Green Tribunal has put a four-week stay on the steel flyover project, based on a petition filed by various Bengaluru citizens and interest groups. The project was supposed to begin from November 1.

 

The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) in the hearing gave an undertaking to the HC saying that it will not go ahead with the construction for now.

 

Namma Bengaluru Foundation had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to halt the steel flyover project that is proposed from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal in Bengaluru. The several groups in Bengaluru had opposed the project on environmental grounds.

 

The BDA had submitted the affidavit voluntarily with due information on the status of steel flyover work, even before the court serves notice.

 

The ₹1,761-crore project to construct a 6.72 km long, six-lane steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal to decongest traffic has faced stiff opposition as it allegedly involved felling of over 800 trees. Farmers too had opposed the project. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium too had reportedly said that ramps may block the view of the sky.

 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had defended the proposed construction of steel flyover calling it "totally transparent" and claimed the project was proposed in 2010 and announced in 2014-15 budget.