Bengaluru Lalbagh Protest: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has taken to the streets taking up a post in the city. He is distributing pamphlets to the people. His entire matter is regarding the acquisition of 5 acres of land in Lalbagh.
Bengaluru (Karnataka): Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya led a major protest in Lalbagh on Sunday. They distributed posters and pamphlets with the tagline ‘Lalbagh Bikau Hai’. Surya is opposing the Karnataka government’s proposal to acquire more than five acres of park land for the Tunnel Road Project.
MP Tejashwi distributing pamphlets on the streets of Bengaluru
- The BJP MP along with his supporters distributed pamphlets to the people and visitors who were out for a morning walk. He appealed to the people to ‘save Lalbagh’. Surya called it an attack on the green heritage of the city. He alleged that the state government plans not only to create infrastructure but also to make commercial use of this historical place.
- Speaking to ANI during the protest, Tejaswi Surya said, “The Karnataka government has said in its affidavit in the High Court that they want to acquire five acres of land of Lalbagh. Lalbagh is the heritage of Bengaluru. It is the last big green area (lung) of the city, where people can come and spend some moments in peace. It also helps in maintaining the groundwater level of the city.”
- The Bengaluru South MP said the matter has been challenged in the court, which is hearing public interest litigations (PILs). The court has made the process of tunnel road subject to the final decision of these petitions. Surya claimed that the intention to commercialize this historical place is clearly written in the tender and Detailed Project Report (DPR).
What is the whole matter of Lalbagh?
“Lalbagh Lake is an important part of the ecosystem and heritage here. Five acres is no small matter. We have raised questions on this step of the government in the court. The court is hearing the case. Thankfully, the court has made the entire tender process and the tunnel road project dependent on the final outcome of the PIL. What is even more worrying is that in the tender, the contractor has been allowed to build a five-storey commercial complex on the five acres of land in Lalbagh that they want to acquire. All this is clearly written in the tender documents and DPR.
“Our fight is not against any infrastructure project. Our fight is not against development. We want development, but the right kind of development. Please do not destroy Bengaluru’s remaining green heritage for real estate projects,” he added.
The matter reached Karnataka High Court
- Earlier on July 16, BJP MP Tejashwi Surya had told that the Karnataka High Court has made the Tunnel Road Project subject to the outcome of the PIL and has also reiterated the interim ban on felling of trees in Lalbagh. He had described this project as ‘completely illegal’ because no environmental impact assessment has been done. He had also told that the next hearing of the case will be on August 20 for the final decision.
- ”The Karnataka High Court heard a batch of PILs challenging the state government’s Tunnel Road Project. The Chief Justice has directed the state government to inform any potential contractors about these actions. The court also directed that no equity will be created in respect of the project. The Chief Justice reiterated the previous interim order on cutting of trees in Lalbagh.
- “The High Court has made the tender process and the Tunnel Road Project subject to the outcome of the PIL. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 20, when the final verdict on the case will be pronounced. I am grateful to the High Court for granting interim relief at this stage. Tunnel Road Project is completely illegal. No environmental impact assessment has been done,” he added.