It is a living religious and a cultural heritage of Bengaluru that is 150 years old. It has been designated for statutory protection under the draft master plan of the metropolis. But still, the All Saints Church is all set to lose its sacred grove, the orphanage and an old age home to an underground Metro station that is coming up at Vellara Junction.
The church congregation was getting ready to celebrate the church’s 150th anniversary this November. But the construction work by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has put a spoke on those plans.
Namma Metro has chosen to use the church’s sacred grove (with over 100 trees) and all the remaining open space around the church to dump its tunnelling equipment and construction debris. The work has, however, stopped over the last few days as the Army, which claims that the land has been given on lease to the church, has ordered the BMRCL not to carry out any work.
In a David versus Goliath fight, church-goers have taken on the mighty BMRCL to save the church, sacred grove, orphanage and old age home on its premises. They agree that the city needs development, but not at the cost of its heritage structures. They say that decades-old trees cannot be cut for the Metro line without the permission of the Tree Officer.
“Even a single tree cannot be cut without the permission of the Tree Officer, according to the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act of 1976. If the project involves cutting more than 50 trees, it has to go through a public hearing involving the BMRCL, BBMP, church members and other citizens,” said a member of the church. But BMRCL claimed in a press release, “The project would be tweaked so that less than 50 trees will be cut.” But a church member said, “It does not seem to be true.”
Around 1,000 members of the church and the green brigade vehemently opposed the cutting of trees and pointed out that it would result in the destruction of the church’s sylvan surroundings.
“It's our heritage building which is the pride of Bengaluru. Also, we are against BMRCL’s move because nothing has been brought up before the church committee. As per the original Detailed Project Report (DPR), the Metro line was to run below the Hosur Road but was shifted to within the Church compound. This is in violation of the prior laid down norms. Now, the BMRCL has asked for additional land, which takes up a major portion of the church land. We want the Metro but not by losing the heritage building. Alternatives should be explored,” said a member of the church, who wished not to be named.
As per the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the Metro pillars are located on the opposite side of the church which has a police quarters – a government property. The BMRCL was to originally take only 2,000 sqft of the church property. But now, BMRCL has acquired 7,426 sq mt of land on Hosur Road that is said to belong to the church, for the Vellara Junction station of the Red Line (Gottigere-Nagawara) under Metro’s Phase-II network
Despite obvious changes on the ground, the Detailed Project Report has not been updated and continues to remain same. Also, a compensation of nearly Rs 60 crore has already been paid by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board to the church authorities.
The Construction firm, Larsen and Toubro, is carrying out the underground work for the 5.5 km stretch from Vellara Junction to Pottery Town. The five stations that will come up along the stretch are at Vellara Junction, M.G. Road, Shivajinagar, Bamboo Bazaar and Pottery Town.
