Bengaluru: The high court Thursday adjourned to next week the hearing on a PIL challenging the proposed short tunnel project at Hebbal Lake, directing the authorities to arrange a presentation by an engineer to demonstrate that the project would not disturb the water body’s inflow and outflow.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice KS Hemalekha observed that such a presentation could allay the petitioners’ concerns that the project would drain the lake.Appearing for RK Guruprasad and two other petitioners, advocate Sneha Nagaraj submitted that lake land had been diverted for the tunnel project. She contended that the construction would obstruct the lake’s inlet and outlet, a fact reflected in documents available with the authorities.On the other hand, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty maintained that the project would not affect the lake’s inflow or outflow. He agreed to the court’s request to arrange a technical presentation by an engineer explaining the measures proposed to ensure that the water body’s flow remains undisturbed.The petitioners have sought quashing of the project’s DPR, titled “Short Length Transitory 3-Lane Bi-Directional Vehicular Underpass connecting Hebbal Flyover Junction to Veterinary College via GKVK campus premises,” prepared pursuant to the revised final draft report of Sept 2025, along with all consequential actions initiated based on it.They have also sought a declaration that the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (Amendment) Act, to the extent it reduces buffer zones, is unconstitutional. They further seek striking down of Rule 24 of the BMLTA Rules, which exempts the project from the prior approval required under the BMLTA Act.HC seeks GSI report on LalbaghMeanwhile, the division bench directed the state govt to place before the court a Geological Survey of India report on the Peninsular Gneissic Complex concerning Lalbagh.The direction came after Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, appearing as counsel, urged the court to call for the report.The hearing on a PIL filed by Dr Adikesavalu Ravindra, theatre personality Prakash Belawadi and others challenging the 16.7-km twin-tunnel project was adjourned to Sept 10. The petitioners have challenged the July 14, 2025 tender notification issued by the govt and the erstwhile BBMP (now GBA), along with various project-related communications, the Dec 2024 feasibility study report and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) issued in Feb-March this year.According to the petitioners, the project, estimated to cost between Rs 17,780 crore and Rs 19,000 crore, has been advanced without a lawful assessment of its economic viability, social impact and constitutional validity.
