The Deccan Chronicle 03.12.2010
BBMP asked stop work on road at GKVK campusDec. 2: The authorities of the GKVK College and the residents of the surrounding areas protested against the road that is being built around the GKVK campus as they feel that the road will affect the bio-diversity values of the campus.
The chairman of the major works committee (MWC), Mr H. Ravindra, on Thursday, directed the BBMP engineers to temporarily suspend the work on the controversial road and assured the protesters that the concerned authorities would consider developing a short distance road instead of the circuitous one that is bound to inconvenience people.
Mr Ravindra carried out an inspection on the work that was being done on the road and said that the road was planned in an unscientific manner as the former BBMP commissioner, Mr S. Subramanya, wanted to favour certain builders. The road is being developed at a cost of ` 27 crore and has created quite a stir in the BBMP council. It has been embroiled in controversy since its initiation and Mr Ravindra even alleged that public money was being squandered with regard to the work being done on the road. In fact, the members of the MWC have alleged that Mr Subramanya’s stakes in the project were being executed by the Fortuna Apartments.
Apart from ordering a probe into the road formation, Mr Ravindra has summoned the authorities of the forest department, the BBMP, the BDA, the public and the GKVK for a meeting that will be held on Sunday in order to make a decision regarding the road. The outcome of the meeting will be sent to the mayor and the BBMP commissioner so that they can carry it forward.
Mr Ravindra said that, “We will consider a shorter detour route for the road and for the same, we will have to acquire the properties of L&T and other private companies through the TDR. In addition, residents of the Canara Bank layout will be taken into confidence to form another road that will benefit the people.”
The associate director of research at the GKVK, Mr D. Noothan, said that the BBMP had taken up the project despite stiff opposition from the public and in violation of three laws including the Forest and Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act.
Meanwhile, the BBMP engineers defended themselves saying they executed the project as per the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) – 1995.
