Kadirenahalli ordeal continues

Two religious places and a peepal tree now stand in the way of completing the much-delayed Kadirenahalli underpass.

The contractor, who is executing the work, has already been fined for delaying the project. The project was supposed to have finished three years ago and has missed many deadlines so far.

The Palike, which started the land acquisition in the middle of the project, claims it has completed the process. But so far it has failed to clear structures built on the acquired land.

According to sources, the contractor firm, Madhava Hytech, recently succeeded in negotiating with the temple management to give up the land. The idols were shifted to another place after the firm assured to construct a new temple with an estimated cost of about Rs 1.5 lakh.

However, a peepal tree in front of the temple still poses a big challenge. Sources said unless the tree is removed, the problem could not be sorted out. The application to cut the tree is lying before the Forest Department of the Palike for the last four years.

In many buildings, people who gave up land have not vacated putting the Palike in a fix. According to officials in the BBMP, unless these buildings are demolished, sewerage lines cannot be shifted. Now, the sewage flows all over the underpass.

Of the 77 trees along the stretch, 52 have been cut and 24 have been replanted near Puttenahalli Lake. However, the peepal tree has remained the bone of contention.

A portion of a place of worship too needs to be demolished for the project. But no one in the Palike is coming forward to negotiate and clear it, the sources said.