In yet another protest, scores of people gathered on Sunday morning at the All Saints Church in Richmond Town against the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
The church complex is home to more than a 100 trees, with lush green lawns that are dotted with benches, and is reminiscent of what the Garden City used to be.
The BMRCL is planning to carry out temporary construction activity inside the tree-dotted compound of the 150-year-old church at the expense of the old trees, a school for children with learning and cognitive disabilities, and an old age home.
This is one of the many protests that have been held regularly since the beginning of the year.
Activists have demanded that the BMRCL stick to its original detailed project report (DPR) and build the proposed metro station on the land presently occupied by the petrol station.
Moreover, they fear that if any construction work is allowed in the church compound, then with all the tunnel digging and drilling, the heritage structure of the 150-year-old church itself will crumble.
This planned construction is for the metro line from Dairy Circle to Nagawara (part of the Namma Metro Phase II). The commercial property that the church-owned, including Tom’s Hotel, Fatima Bakery and Daniel Garage, has already been handed to BMRCL for the same metro project.
Environmental conservationists have said that along with the trees, some of which are over 100 years old, the vicinity will lose the cool atmosphere which it now enjoys due to the current microclimate. Plus, the area acts as a roosting spot many species of birds, including the rare Paradise Flycatcher.
Arun Prasad, an activist part of the protest, said, “BMRCL can use the open, barren space at the Central Military Police for its temporary acquisition, which is less than 100m down the road. This would be a win-win situation for all concerned. We don’t want the BMRCL to touch any part of the church compound.”
Currently, the matter is at a stalemate as the Tree Committee, which has the authority to allow the BMRCL to cull this many trees, is yet to meet due to ongoing litigation at the Karnataka High Court.
Even the Tree Committee, prior to the litigation, in its correspondence to the BMRCL, has asked the body to use the vacant military land for the purpose.
Moreover, the activists say the hardline approach of the BMRCL amounts to contempt of court as the High Court has recently reiterated that all large scale infrastructure projects in the state should follow three rounds of a process of public consultation as per the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.