HC Orders Presentation on Hebbal Lake Impact from Proposed Underpass

The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to arrange a presentation to demonstrate that a proposed vehicular underpass connecting the Hebbal Flyover Junction to Veterinary College via the GKVK premises will not harm the inlet and outlet of Hebbal lake.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K S Hemalekha issued the direction during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Guruprasad RK, Rishvanjas Raghavan, and Elizabeth Soumya regarding the proposed infrastructure project.

The project under scrutiny is planned as a short length transitory three-lane bi-directional vehicular underpass. Counsel appearing for the petitioners raised serious environmental concerns regarding the waterbody, pointing out that 3.45 acres out of the total 136 acres of Hebbal lake have been sought for the project work.

The petitioners' counsel argued before the bench that no provision under the Karnataka Tank Conservation Act permits such acquisition or use of lake land. The counsel further contended that considering the depth of the proposed tunnel, the construction work would disturb both the inlet and outlet channels of the lake.

Contesting the claims, Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty submitted to the court that no obstruction would be caused to the waterbody. He stated that the tunnel would be built below the buffer zone, ensuring that the inlet and outlet of Hebbal lake remain undisturbed.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the division bench directed the state government to organize the presentation specifically for the court and the petitioners to verify the project's design and ensure the lake's inflow and outflow are preserved. In the broader batch of petitions challenging the project, the court also sought a Geological Survey of India report on Lalbagh and adjourned further hearings to September 10.