Coming down heaving on the BDA authorities for cutting more than 40 trees at Water Tank Junction in Koramangala for the signal-free corridor project between Sirsi Circle and Agara, the high court has sought to know how permission was granted to cut those trees.
The BDA has been directed to produce relevant documents in two days time.
The BDA claimed that the tree officer had permitted tree-cutting. However, a division bench, headed by Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen, has also sought the detailed project report in respect of the signal-free corridor.
Residents of Koramangala allege that despite an assurance from the state government that no trees would be cut, more than 40 trees were cut on Saturday.
The Citizen’s Action Forum, the Koramangala I Block Residents’ Welfare Association and others had contented that the 9.7 km signal-free corridor, at a cost of Rs 119 crore, was unscientific and lead to serious traffic problems.
Contempt notice
The high court has issued notice to BDA and its Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena following a contempt petition alleging blatant disregard of the court’s stay orders in respect of construction of underpasses and flyovers as part of the Sirsi-Agara signal-free corridor.
Directive to BEML
The High Court on Tuesday directed BEML to furnish information on the source of iron ore it had obtained and exported.
The court gave the directions while hearing the plea of one Subramanya Shastry, an Andhra Pradesh-based shareholder of BEML, who has alleged that Rs 118 crore worth pf iron ore was illegally exported by the company in 2007-08.
The petitioner has sought directions to CBI to prosecute BEML chairman and managing director V.R.S. Natarajan.