Contrary to Bengaluru Development Minister K J George's claims, the government had not consulted any experts before finalising its controversial steel flyover plan.
On Wednesday, George had told reporters the government and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had taken the opinion of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras before initiating work on the project.
That's just hogwash, it now emerges. He had also said a committee comprising experts from the two premier institutions would examine the progress and give feedback to the government. The experts are flummoxed, since no one from the government has cared to call them.
Sudhakar Rao, professor and chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, IISc, said his section had not been consulted. "No paper came to me, and I have not handled any paper from the state government," he said.
The other professors of the department — Ashish Verma, T G Sitharam and T V Ramachandra — echoed his thoughts.
Had they been consulted, they said, they would have discouraged the steel flyover idea as it calls for the felling of 812 trees.
Chandra Kishen J M, professor and head of the Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning, IISc, said he had received no communication either. "The government has not sought any advice from us. And even if they had, we would have had to conduct an environmental and feasibility study before giving any opinion," he said.
Dr S Arul Jayachandran from the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT-Madras, has not heard from the authorities either. "I have read about the steel flyover in newspapers, but we were not consulted as claimed by the Karnataka government," he told DH.
Jayachandran also serves as Deputy Director of Steel Lab, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre.
Minister exposed
This is not the first time George has been caught making false statements.
He had earlier claimed the extension of the flyover from Hebbal till Esteem Mall was a Cabinet decision, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah candidly admitted it was an after-thought.
George had claimed he had held meetings with defence personnel to seek land for the flyover. The Indian Air Force said nothing of the sort had happened.
George then patched it up, saying Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had agreed in principle to provide land for state infrastructure projects.
'Sir is busy'
DH called K J George repeatedly for his response to this story, but he did not take our calls. Around 4 pm, his assistant said he was busy having lunch.
Contrary to Bengaluru Development Minister K J George’s claims, the government had not consulted any experts before finalising its controversial steel flyover plan.
On Wednesday, George had told reporters the government and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had taken the opinion of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras before initiating work on the project.
That’s just hogwash, it now emerges. He had also said a committee comprising experts from the two premier institutions would examine the progress and give feedback to the government. The experts are flummoxed, since no one from the government has cared to call them.
Sudhakar Rao, professor and chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, IISc, said his section had not been consulted. "No paper came to me, and I have not handled any paper from the state government,” he said.
The other professors of the department — Ashish Verma, T G Sitharam and T V Ramachandra — echoed his thoughts.
Had they been consulted, they said, they would have discouraged the steel flyover idea as it calls for the felling of 812 trees.
Chandra Kishen J M, professor and head of the Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning, IISc, said he had received no communication either. "The government has not sought any advice from us. And even if they had, we would have had to conduct an environmental and feasibility study before giving any opinion,” he said.
Dr S Arul Jayachandran from the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT-Madras, has not heard from the authorities either. "I have read about the steel flyover in newspapers, but we were not consulted as claimed by the Karnataka government,” he told DH.
Jayachandran also serves as Deputy Director of Steel Lab, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre.
Minister exposed
This is not the first time George has been caught making false statements.
He had earlier claimed the extension of the flyover from Hebbal till Esteem Mall was a Cabinet decision, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah candidly admitted it was an after-thought.
George had claimed he had held meetings with defence personnel to seek land for the flyover. The Indian Air Force said nothing of the sort had happened.
George then patched it up, saying Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had agreed in principle to provide land for state infrastructure projects.
'Sir is busy’
DH called K J George repeatedly for his response to this story, but he did not take our calls. Around 4 pm, his assistant said he was busy having lunch.