Campaign partner: LifeTide India
Addressed to:
Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA)
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEfCC)
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)
Karnataka State Forest Department
Singanayakahalli Panchayat
Demands:
Stop the Peripheral Ring Road to save the Jarakabande forest
Make the final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environment Clearance (EC) and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) fully accessible to the public
All ongoing land acquisition and tree felling exercises must be halted with immediate effect until aforementioned documents are made accessible to the public
Conduct a fresh and transparent public consultation
The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) is relentlessly pushing a 73.5 km long Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project (now known as the Bengaluru Business Corridor), claiming it will decongest traffic, by building an 8-lane highway around the entire city.
But what they are NOT telling you is that this ambitious project, which was announced almost twenty years ago, will have high environmental consequences, as per the impact assessment report. The 8-lane highway will eat up significant portions (7.91 hectares) of Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest, in addition to disrupting the lacustrine ecosystem across six lakes*. The construction of the highway will also displace thousands of families, who have no clarity on land compensation.
Impact on Natural Ecosystems
The Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest is one of Bengaluru’s last standing forests. It keeps the city’s air breathable, the city’s neighbourhoods cooler, and helps refill the groundwater. It’s home to countless birds, animals, and trees that have stood for decades. If the proposed 763 metres of road cuts through the forest, we risk losing more than 600 trees and an ecosystem without which the city will experience much worse climate extremities.
In 2020, the BDA sought 25 acres of forest land in the Jarakabande Kaval Forest for the PRR project, despite the EIA mentioning that only 3.7 acres of forest land will be required for this purpose. When questioned about the discrepancy between the numbers, the then BDA Commissioner mentioned that he was unaware of the details mentioned in the EIA and maintained his stance of requiring 25 acres of forest land. Then, in 2021, the Karnataka government drew the ire of citizens when it proposed a tree park (as big as Cubbon Park) in the JB Kaval forest. Environmentalists and concerned citizens highlighted the violation of conservation laws with this proposal and even mentioned the subsequent threat to biodiversity in the region.
The route alignment is also in close proximity to the boundaries of Bannerghatta National Park and Puttenahalli Bird Reserve. Environmental experts have warned that the 8-lane corridor will disrupt wildlife corridors, and open up protected areas to encroachment and degradation.
Impact on Water Resources
The construction of the road will have adverse consequences for the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir – which serves as a key drinking water resource for the city. More than 13,000 trees in the catchment area will be axed to make way for the business corridor. The impact on the catchment area will range from degradation of water quality to changing the natural flow pattern of run-off water during monsoon, leading to increased neighbourhood flooding.
Bengaluru faces flooding that claims lives and livelihood year after year. This year alone, flood related damages account for losses worth 198 crore rupees.
The construction of the road will also significantly deplete groundwater levels at a time when Bengaluru faces acute water shortage. Once known as the ‘City of Lakes’, Bengaluru has lost its water bodies to rapid and unplanned concretisation. The proposed project will be detrimental to the existence of six lakes from the remaining few in the city.
Impact on Air Quality
The proposed road will emit 6 lakh tonnes of CO₂ – just from construction and maintenance alone! That’s the equivalent of burning 24 crore litres of petrol, according to the BDA’s own Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
This figure does not even account for the emissions that will be generated by the thousands of additional vehicles, nor does it include the reduction in carbon sequestration capacity caused by the permanent loss of over 33,000 mature trees.
Bengaluru cannot afford to trade its last remaining forests and water bodies for more roads!
All of these concerns have been raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment, and yet, authorities seem to be pushing ahead as per plans.
Lack of Transparency
Even the process to approve this project has been riddled with controversy and concerns. Two public hearings – out of which one was virtual – were conducted. Both were, however, struck down by the courts. The High Court ordered a fresh hearing, but it was held in 2022 with little public awareness or participation. Despite this, an Environmental Clearance was granted in 2023.
If the Peripheral Ring Road goes ahead as per plans, the city will become unlivable! Sign the petition to stop the project and save the forest.
*Lakes
Jarakabande Tank (adjacent to Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest)
Chinnagenahalli Lake
Chikkabanahalli Lake
Gunjur Lake
Chikkatogur Lake
Thirumenahalli Lake
Sources:
Campaign partner: LifeTide India
Addressed to:
Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA)
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEfCC)
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)
Karnataka State Forest Department
Singanayakahalli Panchayat
Demands:
Stop the Peripheral Ring Road to save the Jarakabande forest
Make the final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environment Clearance (EC) and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) fully accessible to the public
All ongoing land acquisition and tree felling exercises must be halted with immediate effect until aforementioned documents are made accessible to the public
Conduct a fresh and transparent public consultation
The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) is relentlessly pushing a 73.5 km long Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project (now known as the Bengaluru Business Corridor), claiming it will decongest traffic, by building an 8-lane highway around the entire city.
But what they are NOT telling you is that this ambitious project, which was announced almost twenty years ago, will have high environmental consequences, as per the impact assessment report. The 8-lane highway will eat up significant portions (7.91 hectares) of Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest, in addition to disrupting the lacustrine ecosystem across six lakes*. The construction of the highway will also displace thousands of families, who have no clarity on land compensation.
Impact on Natural Ecosystems
The Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest is one of Bengaluru’s last standing forests. It keeps the city’s air breathable, the city’s neighbourhoods cooler, and helps refill the groundwater. It’s home to countless birds, animals, and trees that have stood for decades. If the proposed 763 metres of road cuts through the forest, we risk losing more than 600 trees and an ecosystem without which the city will experience much worse climate extremities.
In 2020, the BDA sought 25 acres of forest land in the Jarakabande Kaval Forest for the PRR project, despite the EIA mentioning that only 3.7 acres of forest land will be required for this purpose. When questioned about the discrepancy between the numbers, the then BDA Commissioner mentioned that he was unaware of the details mentioned in the EIA and maintained his stance of requiring 25 acres of forest land. Then, in 2021, the Karnataka government drew the ire of citizens when it proposed a tree park (as big as Cubbon Park) in the JB Kaval forest. Environmentalists and concerned citizens highlighted the violation of conservation laws with this proposal and even mentioned the subsequent threat to biodiversity in the region.
The route alignment is also in close proximity to the boundaries of Bannerghatta National Park and Puttenahalli Bird Reserve. Environmental experts have warned that the 8-lane corridor will disrupt wildlife corridors, and open up protected areas to encroachment and degradation.
Impact on Water Resources
The construction of the road will have adverse consequences for the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir – which serves as a key drinking water resource for the city. More than 13,000 trees in the catchment area will be axed to make way for the business corridor. The impact on the catchment area will range from degradation of water quality to changing the natural flow pattern of run-off water during monsoon, leading to increased neighbourhood flooding.
Bengaluru faces flooding that claims lives and livelihood year after year. This year alone, flood related damages account for losses worth 198 crore rupees.
The construction of the road will also significantly deplete groundwater levels at a time when Bengaluru faces acute water shortage. Once known as the ‘City of Lakes’, Bengaluru has lost its water bodies to rapid and unplanned concretisation. The proposed project will be detrimental to the existence of six lakes from the remaining few in the city.
Impact on Air Quality
The proposed road will emit 6 lakh tonnes of CO₂ – just from construction and maintenance alone! That’s the equivalent of burning 24 crore litres of petrol, according to the BDA’s own Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
This figure does not even account for the emissions that will be generated by the thousands of additional vehicles, nor does it include the reduction in carbon sequestration capacity caused by the permanent loss of over 33,000 mature trees.
Bengaluru cannot afford to trade its last remaining forests and water bodies for more roads!
All of these concerns have been raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment, and yet, authorities seem to be pushing ahead as per plans.
Lack of Transparency
Even the process to approve this project has been riddled with controversy and concerns. Two public hearings – out of which one was virtual – were conducted. Both were, however, struck down by the courts. The High Court ordered a fresh hearing, but it was held in 2022 with little public awareness or participation. Despite this, an Environmental Clearance was granted in 2023.
If the Peripheral Ring Road goes ahead as per plans, the city will become unlivable! Sign the petition to stop the project and save the forest.
*Lakes
Jarakabande Tank (adjacent to Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest)
Chinnagenahalli Lake
Chikkabanahalli Lake
Gunjur Lake
Chikkatogur Lake
Thirumenahalli Lake
Sources: