Green tribunal grants interim stay on housing project

The southern zone bench of the National Green Tribunal, Chennai, has granted interim stay on the Shriram Chirping Woods project coming up between Kaikondrahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes in the City.

The stay was ordered while hearing a petition filed by Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) and Mahadevapura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti (MAPSMAS) in October.

The bench of Justice M Chockalingam and technical member P S Rao passed the order staying construction and other connected activities by Shrivision Homes, which is a part of the Shriram Group of Companies. It is learnt that Shriram Chirping Woods has several blocks of apartments and villaments spread across about 16 acres in Kasavanahalli village, Varthur hobli, Bengaluru East taluk.

NBF and MAPSMAS had challenged the manner in which various agencies had granted permission for the project, stating that there was blatant disregard for the ecological impact, especially on the Kasavanahalli and Kaikondrahalli lakes. NBF said construction is in full swing despite the pending environmental clearance. It accused the developers of dumping construction material in the stormwater drain and the buffer zone of the lake, resulting in flooding in the surrounding areas.

The Tribunal found prima facie case for grant of interim stay as the proposed construction is in the midst of valley and buffer zone. The Tribunal recognised that there exists a substantial question regarding environment and ecology in the event of construction taking place in the ecologically sensitive area between the lakes.

Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO of Namma Bengaluru Foundation, said, “The unique lake ecosystem which has historically been the lifeblood for water supply for our city is increasingly being threatened. We hope that the order of the Tribunal will put an end to the shocking destruction caused by developers to the lakes and will send a strong message to other developers who are causing damage to lakes in Bengaluru.”