‘Save GKVK’ Campaign – Community Protest
Date: 10:00 am – 11:00 am, Sunday, October 11, 2009
Venue: GKVK Main Gate on Bellary Road
Program: Protest against proposed 80 feet link road through GKVK campus
Issue
Proposed construction of a major 80 feet link road through GKVK campus entailing cutting of 3000 trees and destruction of several research plots
Current Status
GKVK has transferred the land to BBMP. BBMP has felled hundreds of trees and has initiated civil works. Court has issued stay order on further felling of trees. Forest department has filed a FIR and is investigating the issue. However, BBMP is still planning to carry on with road work. We have now lost hundreds of trees, but the land still remains. We can atleast regrow the trees and we can prevent a road from running through a green patch and destroying it. If we lose the land, we lose the battle fully and we’ll have a road running through an urban green patch, impacting the rest of the green patch negatively!
Why is it of concern?
q GKVK is a unique habitat with rich bio-diversity providing the much needed green space and shelter to several species of birds, insects, animals and many rare plants.
q Deforestation will potentially affect ambient temperature, rainfall, and the surrounding water table.
q Pollution resulting from the fuel emissions of subsequent traffic on the proposed link road would negatively impact the bio-diversity of the campus as also the health of the neighbourhood children and residents.
q The research character of the campus would be adversely affected with the advent the road, commuters, establishment of commercial enterprises, and generation of waste material alongside such a major link road through the campus.
Community Demand
q Environmental Impact Study (EIS) must be done in compliance of legal requirements for forest areas and a serious evaluation of alternatives must be undertaken in consultation with stakeholders and environmentalists before taking a decision.
Action taken so far
q Signature campaign for petition to Karnataka Governor
q Petition to BBMP on April 10th, 2009
q Save GKVK Candlelight Vigil on August 25, 2009
q Petition to the Karnataka Governor on August 28th, 2009
q Save GKVK March on September 5th, 2009
q Memorandum to the Karnataka Governor on September 5th, 2009
q Submission for intervention to the Director General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi.
q Save GKVK Candlelight Vigil on October 2, 2009
Must SAVE this lung space – the GKVK campus – one of the last remaining green cover in North Bengaluru!
Contact: 95 35 10 30 50
Email:
SaveGKVKadmin@gmail.com ⊕