BENGALURU: Advocate-General Madhusudhan Naik, who represented the state government at the National Green Tribunal (NGT), argued that the steel flyover does not need an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as the project is an extension of National Highways. But experts say that the flyover is in no measure a highway project and EIA is imperative.
Urban evangelist V. Ravichandar told Deccan Chronicle, “Chalukya Circle is not part of a highway. EIA is imperative. Bengaluru is getting concretised by the day and this steel flyover will be a further nail on the coffin of liveable Bengaluru.” Senior officials at the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) said that mere opposition to a project during public consultation will not deem the project ‘undesirable’. In reply, Mr Ravichandar said, “The role of SEIAA is to do a technical analysis and let them carry out their role. Chopping down of hundreds of trees for the steel project will affect the microclimate.”
Asked whether the state government, which is in a hurry to get the project going, would have arm twisted SEIAA, Mr Ravichandar said, “One hopes no”. Senior scientist and coordinator of energy and wetland research Dr T.V. Ramachandra said, “No matter whether the project needs an EIA or not, look at the damage this one single steel flyover project can do to the environment in the city. “If this flyover becomes a reality, the entire stretch will become a heat corridor and increase the temperature in the area by at least 3 degrees Celsius. It will affect the rainfall pattern and will also increase pollution. Has the government become so insensible to not take into consideration the impact of chopping down 812 fully grown trees?”
He said, “This is not a sustainable project and the government has not explored any other alternatives to this steel bridge. If we go by the government's stand which says this is a sustainable project compared to other models like the Metro, then where is the comparative assessment? As citizens of Bengaluru, we have the right to demand and know every minute detail related to the project.”
