Twin Tunnel Road challenge: Karnataka HC seeks GSI report on Lalbagh’s Peninsular Gneiss rock formation

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the authorities to place before it the Geological Survey of India's (GSI) report concerning the Peninsular Gneiss rock at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, while considering challenges to the proposed 16.7-km Bengaluru Twin Tunnel Road project.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice KS Hemalekha issued the direction while considering petitions challenging the proposed 16.7-km North–South Tunnel Road project, which is meant to run from Hebbal to Central Silk Board.

The plea before the Court alleges that the project was launched without adequate approvals and and without properly assessing its environmental consequences.

A plea filed in the matter by actor Prakash Belawadi also raises concerns that the tunnel is proposed to pass beneath the Peninsular Gneiss rock formation at Lalbagh. Bengaluru South Member of Parliament and Advocate Tejasvi Surya, representing Belawadi, told the Court that the rock formation is a significant geological monument.

He added that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has already submitted its report on it, and urged the Court to examine the same.

He explained that the report would assist the Court in assessing whether the proposed twin tunnel project would have any impact on the geological monument.

The Court yesterday also considered a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by Bengaluru residents, Guruprasad R K, Rishvanjas Raghavan and Elizabeth Soumya, challenging a proposed shorter tunnel project that is proposed to pass beneath the Hebbal Lake (Hebbal tunnel project).

The petitioners have raised apprehensions that this project could potentially affect the network of stormwater drains feeding the Hebbal Lake.

The petitioners have relied on the project's Detailed Project Report (DPR), contending that it also acknowledges that the lake's inflow would be affected. They further alleged that no independent hydrological, hydrogeological or environmental study was undertaken before the project was approved.

Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate Sneha Nagaraj yesterday submitted that the proposed tunnel would not merely pass through the lake's buffer zone but through the lake land itself. She submitted that out of the 136 acres of lake land, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is acquiring around 3.5 acres for the project.

The petitioners further contended that there was no statutory power under the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act to transfer lake land for the proposed project.

The Court has directed the authorities to arrange a technical presentation by an engineer to address some of the petitioners' concerns. The presentation should clarify whether the proposed tunnel would have any impact on the inflow or outflow of water into the lake, as well as its underground water flow, the Court said.

Meanwhile, Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty, appearing for the State, submitted that the proposed project would cause no harm to the inflow or outflow of the lake.

The Bench, however, observed that it would be useful for an engineer to make a technical presentation addressing the concerns raised by the petitioners.

The Advocate General agreed to arrange the presentation, which is also expected to address the legal and statutory basis for transfer of the lake land.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 10.