Activists demand public consultation

BANGALORE: After the Karnataka High Court gave its green signal to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to go ahead with the Sankey Tank bund road widening and allowed NGO Hasiru Usiru, to coordinate the works in ensuring protection, preservation and extension of tree growth on the sides of the road, activists are now demanding public consultation.The Sankey Tank Road widening was a part of the project to widen the road between Bashyam Circle and Yeshwantpur Circle. The court had earlier stayed the widening after residents of that locality and the activists had filed a petition against it.Vinay of Hasiru Usiru said that at present there was no need to widen.Explaining the reasons, Vinay said that first of all the Palike does not have funds and adds that no one is demanding them to widen the road by taking loan.Further, Vinay said that the Palike should organise a public consultation.“This project will not affect only the Tank but also put pedestrians on risk.Widening the road means pedestrians should wait to cross the road.There are other problems that the road users as well the residents will face.Palike should consult the public before drawing a conclusion,” he added.Adding to Vinay’s voice, a resident of Malleshwaram who did not wish to be named, said that now the court has agreed for the road widening, Palike will axe the trees.“There are chances of Palike cutting down trees which might not be required for the widening. Court has directed Palike to consult an NGO. But Palike should also consult the local residents in this regard,” the resident said.Vinod, representing Sankey Tank Walkers’ Association, said that now that the Court has given nod to widen, the road widening work cannot be stopped.“We are sending a proposal to the BBMP to include a dedicated bicycle lane on the widened road,” he said.