The New Indian Express 14.12.2010
Palike to serve notice to former commissioner
The former commissioner had approved the construction of a road through the green campus.
The former and present GKVK vicechancellors held a meeting with the Major Works Standing Committee Chairman H Ravindra in the BBMP head office on Monday to discuss the same.
They suggested that the project be scrapped and the BBMP allow the university to grow back the vegetation and trees that were cut by the contractors to build the road.
Ravindra said the officials involved in this project would be given 10 days to reply to the notices and will have to justify their decision on allowing the project.
The Palike has earmarked `31 crore for the project and so far `21 crore has been spent on the same.
The civic authorities have also acquired 24 acres of GKVK land for the same.
The meeting, after a detailed discussion with a delegation comprising Dr K Natayana Gowda and former vicechancellors R Dwarakinath, G K Veeresh and retired IAS officer Srinivasan and the Major works committee members, unanimously decided to scrap the project.
Ravindra had earlier alleged that the road was built to facilitate a few builders and was not in the interest of the people.
Ravindra said he had discussed the same with the mayor, BBMP commissioner and the district incharge minister.
He said once they received replies, they would place the report and the responses before the council for discussion and approval.
The university representatives alleged that the former BBMP commissioner had deliberately tried to interfere in the matter and added that he pursued the project when he became the principal secretary of the Agriculture Department, who is also an important member of the GKVK University Board.
They complained that more than 900 trees were felled for the project.
