High court issues notice to government over Nandi Hills ropeway project
The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the state government regarding a petition challenging the proposed ropeway project at Nandi Hills. A division bench led by Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by C.D. Kiran, president of the Vishva Manavadhikar Seva Foundation. The court ordered a notice to be served to the Chief Secretary and adjourned the hearing until April 8. The case has named the Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment, and Biology Department and the Member Secretary of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board as respondents. According to the petition, two acres of land in Survey Number 3 of Nandi Hills and the buffer zone of the Arkavathi River have been leased to a private company for 30 years under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to construct the ropeway. The petition argues that this lease violates the Karnataka Parks Conservation Act, 1975. The petitioners demand the cancellation of this unilateral notification, citing its adverse effects on biodiversity and the local ecosystem. They have also urged the state government to establish an expert committee to assess the environmental impact of the project and submit a report. Additionally, the petition calls for the permanent protection of the Arkavathi and Kumudvathi rivers to prevent pollution.