Bengaluru: The 207.59-acre land allotted by the BBMP to defence forces at Thammanayakanahalli in Anekal may not be viable for the Army to set up a unit as it is just 1 km from the Eco-Sensitive Zone and is close to the Bannerghatta National Park, a senior government official revealed to Deccan Chronicle.
The state government had recently come to an understanding with the defence ministry to swap land to take up infrastructure projects within the city. Accordingly, the BBMP proposed to give the Army the land at Survey No 23 and 177 at Thammanayakanahalli. On Friday, defence personnel visited the site.
Army officials said that based on their visit, they will prepare a report and then take a decision.
It was agreed that in lieu of the land given by the defence in the city for 10 infrastructure projects, the Palike will give the land at Thammanayakanahalli. The BBMP has issued a statement that once the Army signs the agreement, the Palike will take up development works in the army land situated in the city.
A senior government official told Deccan Chronicle that the area at Thammanayakanahalli has been ravaged by stone quarrying and is also close to the Bannerghatta National Park.
“The area being given to the defence also shares the border with Tamil Nadu. It comes under BBMP and it was earlier used as a landfill. Later, stone quarrying increased even in areas that were not given permission for,” the government official said.
He said that the defence personnel will chair a high-level meeting to discuss the viability of setting up a defence centre close to the eco-sensitive zone.
Though DC could not confirm the details sent by the highly-placed source in the government, environmentalists said that the 207.59-acre land that is proposed to be allotted to the defence is in bad shape because of intense stone quarrying.
“Quarrying has been suspended now, but the damage done to the ecology is huge. It has also done enough damage to the BNP,” said conservationist Vijay Nishanth.
