Ifs and buts over Metro Rail persist

Ifs and buts over Metro Rail persist
DH News Service,Bangalore:

The Metro Rail project is set to hit top gear with the government having announced the compensation package for land-losers. But at an open house discussion organised by ‘CIVIC Bangalore’ on ‘Bangalore Metro - Its socio-economic and environmental impact’, on Friday, old issues cropped up again.
Former High Court judge Justice M F Saldanha questioned why the BMRC ignored alternatives like the monorail before implementing the Rs 6,300-crore project. “Bangalore has lost 19,500 trees in nine years during construction of various projects by BBMP and BDA. We even lost the MG Road boulevard. When the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation began construction, 300 traders committed suicide,” he said and passed a ‘resolution’ that citizens of Bangalore have given a thumbs down for Metro Rail.
BMRC Managing Director V Madhu objected to this and said the views of a section of the audience does not reflect the opinion of all Bangaloreans. “The government has decided to implement the Metro Rail as well as monorail as a feeder,” he said.
Environment Monitoring Committee Chairman Yellappa Reddy, however, allayed fears over environment and said a comprehensive ‘Environmental Management Action Plan was prepared by BMRC which has considered all aspects like loss of green cover, and provided measures like compensatory afforestation of planting 15,000 trees for loss of an estimated 1,500 trees on the Metro alignment, ground cover planting below elevated tracks with ornamental shrubs and landscaping the promenade on M G Road after completion of the project. Mr Madhu had earlier said a detailed report was being prepared for the second phase, while Swastik and Jaibheemanagar slums would be rehabilated on Magadi Road.
Kathyayini Chamaraj of CIVIC said the Chief Minister and Transport Minister would be invited to an open house meet within a month to convey a message to the government to consider other options.