Bengaluru, 15 Nov

BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly R Ashoka, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and BJP leader CN Ashwath Narayan, launched the 'Save Sankey' signature campaign against the tunnel road project.

The BJP leaders initiated the campaign by signing their names on a white background. Carrying maps of the tunnel road alignment, the BJP leaders said that the project threatens both the historic waterbody and the surrounding parkland.

Narayan stated that the government must change the route of the tunnel road project to ensure that Sankey Tank is not harmed.

"Public space has been used for the tunnel project,” he said. “People of Bengaluru do not want public spaces used for the tunnel... This is not a dictatorial rule… This is not a political issue." 

Karandlaje added that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project has not been prepared correctly.

“They have targeted our tank... We are protesting and we will not let this (project) move forward," she said.

Ashoka said, "The State government is making the tunnel road a money-making business... The government has not taken any survey... They have to take permission from 120 departments. They have not taken any permission. They want an immediate tender for a tunnel road, take the commission, and send it to the Congress party in Delhi... He (Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar) is in a hurry to make money."

He said in a statement on X that: “Congress government moving to destroy Sanky Lake to build unscientific encroachments, ruining Bengaluru's beautiful nature.”

Earlier, the BJP had also launched a signature campaign in Lalbagh. The proposed Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel road project is also set to go under the park, although Shivakumar has said that it wouldn’t harm the park at all.