No trees are being cut inside Lalbagh for proposed Tunnel Road Project: Govt. tells Karnataka HC

The Karnataka government on Tuesday told the High Court of Karnataka that there were no plans to cut trees inside the Lalbagh Botanical Garden for the proposed tunnel road project.

A submission in this regard was made in response to the court’s earlier query on whether trees are being cut at Lalbagh after the petitioners, who have filed PIL petitions challenging the tunnel road project, expressed apprehension about the likely felling of trees as around 6.5 acres in Lalbagh was recently demarcated and ingress and egress of the public to this area were stopped

Taking note that no trees are being cut, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha adjourned further hearing on the petitions, filed by actor-director Prakash Belawadi, Adikesavalu Ravindra and two others, till December 9, as per the date given earlier for further hearing on various issues raised in the petition on legality of the project.

The petitions were taken up on urgent hearing on October 25 after petitioners expressed apprehension about felling of trees and the bench had sought response from the government.

The petitioners have claimed that the project — which proposes construction of tunnel roads from Hebbal to Central Silk Board junction, with eight entry and eight exit points, under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer mode — has been proposed without a lawful appraisal of its economic viability, social and environmental impact or constitutional validity.