The battle to save Sankey Tank

An update on the battle to save Sankey Tank from ruin by halting construction of the Mantri Builders' project Mantri Aquatica:

Sharath Babu of the Environment Support Group and People For Animals has been intimately involved in this initiative. He procured the project's blue print and learnt that the Mantri Group has proposed to build 5 blocks of 17 storeys each with only one 4 bedroom apartment, adding up to 85 such apartments. Each apartment is being sold at a price of Rs 1.3 crore. Rumours are that Shahrukh Khan has purchased one apartment. Even before the land has been dug some buyers are reselling their apartments for Rs 2 crores.

Sharath brings in a surveyor to survey the land whose cost is borne by donations from volunteers of the ESG and PFA. In the presence of Forest Department Range Officer Chinnappaiah the land is surveyed by the surveyor. Sharath and another volunteer Harish along with forest department staff count the number of trees cut to be 34. Permission had been issued only to cut 19 trees which too was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Forests (Rural) in the absence of Deputy Commissioner of Forests (Urban) although its falls under the latter's purview.

Discussions with Mayor P R Ramesh and Corporation Comissioner (now-ex) M R Sreenivasamurthy reveal that Astra IDL which owned 1.2 acres of land behind Aranya Bhavan had sold it to Mantri Group. But Mantri Group's project itself is spread over 7 acres, the rest of it encroached over the forest department land belonging to the lake. Some documents reveal that Mantri has paid Rs 33 crores legally and 43 crores unaccounted for purchasing the land. Mantri Developers have been asked to produce all land-related documents or face a notice from the BMP.
The land records are causing a lot of concern to the BMP. Bangalore corporation chief engineer has signed the documents but the plan does not have the Commissioner's sign and endorsement.

Deputy Foresh Officer Paramesh gets the whole place sealed off and halts all construction and transportation activity. Lake Development Authority officer Vanyashri visits the spot and records the status. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is being approached to ascertain if it provided any clearances to the project.

Please spread the word and mobilize public support to halt this project which will sound the death-knell for the Sankey Lake.