Political melee over road through GKVK campus

The controversy over the road running through the GKVK campus took a political turn with two Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) opposition party corporators extending their support to the former commissioner S Subramanya for taking up the work.

The two corporators — KR Yashodamma from Kuvempunagar and Indira from Byatarayanapura — along with former corporator E Krishnappa on Monday described GKVK vice-chancellor’s opposition to the work as idiosyncrasy.

They accused BBMP major works chairman H Ravindra of making false allegation against Subramanya. Ravindra was indulging in character assassination of Subramanya by hurling baseless allegations, they said.

“Ravindra has said that the BBMP is carrying out the road work during night time, but we ask him why the BBMP is constructing the road in fear when the state government and other government agencies have approved the construction under the CDP no 2015. No person can question the CDP road which was approved in the assembly,” said Yashodamma.

She also questioned Ravindra’s statement to give 24 acres to the GKVK without approval from the council.

Indira said that the GKVK officials were opposing the road due to political motivations. “Despite all approvals, the GKVK officials have acted irresponsibly,” she said.

She said that after former vice-chancellor Dr Dwarakanath filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, a committee under the chairmanship of DR PK Shetty was constituted to ascertain the true facts of the case. The committee upheld the formation of the road decision.

The trio alleged that Ravindra had created unnecessary controversy and stopped the road work. Ravindra is taking decisions without bringing the matter in the council for discussion only to claim political mileage.

When contacted, Ravindra said that Subramanya was using the corporators to shield himself from the controversy.

“These corporators guided us to various mistakes while constructing the road. Now they are supporting the road work. The matter will be presented in the council meeting and we will try to protect the sanctity of the GKVK campus and prevent any disturbance caused to its research work,” said Ravindra.

The construction of the road was approved by the state cabinet on June 25, 2007. The road connects Yeshwantpur and Yelahanka via GKVK campus at University of Agricultural Science.