4 months ago
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The High Court of Karnataka has restrained the State authorities from taking up immoderate improvement activities astatine the crushed level based connected the projected task of converting the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate, Bengaluru, arsenic a eco-tourism and taste hub nether the Central government’s peculiar assistance strategy for improvement of iconic tourer centres.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha passed the interim bid connected a PIL petition filed by R.R. Nagar I Care Trust, Bengaluru.
Interim order
The interim bid was passed connected January 13 aft Shanthi Bhushan H., Deputy Solicitor-General of India, appearing connected behalf of the Central government, informed the Bench that the Union Ministry of Tourism has not received the connection from the State authorities for a tourism hub task astatine the property and hence it cannot beryllium implemented nether the Centre’s strategy astatine present.
The petitioner had contended that the projected improvement of the property is contrary to the provisions of the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate (Acquisition and Transfer) Act, 1996, portion challenging the support fixed to the task by the State authorities successful December 2024.
Deemed forest
Contending that the property is simply a ‘deemed forest’ arsenic per the documents submitted to the Supreme Court by the State government, the petitioner has pointed retired that the property is coming nether the purview of the Revenue Department contempt being a ‘deemed forest’ and a petition of the State Forest Department to transportation the property to it has not been heeded to by the government.
The petitioner has besides pointed retired that the State’s Biodiversity Board during 2021-23 suggested declaring the property arsenic ‘Biodiversity practice site.’
Elephant corridor
Stating that wood screen from Bannerghatta passes done Bannerghata National Park and the Roerich estate, etc., the petitioner has said that property is besides portion of an elephant corridor, and diversion of the property arsenic tourism hub would destruct the elephant corridor, wildlife successful Bannerghata wood area, and flora and fauna successful the portion arsenic the tourism task forecast sojourn of 25,000 radical mundane to the property erstwhile it is developed arsenic a tourism hub.
