Bengaluru: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), southern bench, on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on the controversial steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal to January 30, for final argument.
An application for Impleading 'Citizens for Bengaluru' (CfB) was filed. The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) filed their reply to the main application filed by Citizens Action Forum (CAF).
Given that the Application filed by CfB was filed in support of CAF's application, the Counsel representing CAF submitted to the court that he had no objection and therefore, CfB was directed to be impleaded as a respondent.
Since the reply by SEIAA was already filed by then and that there could be contentions which might require examination, at CAF's instance the matter was adjourned to January 30, for final arguments, with liberty to CAF to file rejoinder to SEIAA's reply. It may be recalled that NGT allowed the BDA to take up works related to soil sampling and investigation and surveys but no construction works as the interim stay is extended until the next hearing,
CfB impleads and became a petitioner along with CAF, indicating the wide public opposition to the steel flyover. CfB will study the response filed by SEIAA and BDA and prepare the rejoinder for the hearing on the 30th
CfB continues to believe the steel flyover project spells doom for our already fragile air quality and environment and the BDA must pay heed to the public cries of #SteelFlyoverBeda, which only grew louder with the strengthening of the citizen movement demanding sustainable mass public transport for the city, instead of flyovers that incentivize private vehicles.
Reducing the number of vehicles was the need of the hour considering the explosive growth and dangers to public health.
