Bengaluru: Green activists opposing the proposed mega eco-tourism project at the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate on the city’s southern outskirts suffered a setback after Karnataka high court granted partial relief to the state govt earlier this week. Softening its earlier direction barring all development activity, the court has now allowed limited works in the estate’s non-forest areas.In Jan 2026, while hearing a PIL petition filed by the RR Nagar I Care Trust, the court had directed both the state and central govts to ensure no development at the estate. The petition challenged a Dec 2024 notification approving an eco-tourism and cultural hub project.During the latest hearing, the state submitted that the central funds would lapse by March 31, 2026, if work remained stalled. “Some of the works as part of the project do not even require diversion of forest land in any manner,” the govt argued, while also seeking permission for landscaping and basic infrastructure work.It also told the court that high footfall necessitated the construction of toilets. “Otherwise, this would result in the pollution of waterbodies located on the estate,” the govt said. Citing frequent wildlife movement, it also proposed an elephant barricade and boundary wall, maintaining that these would not involve forest land diversion.Accepting the plea, the court observed, “In the aforesaid circumstances, we consider it apposite to modify the interim order to permit certain developments at this stage. The interim order shall not apply to the construction of the entrance plaza, toilets, borewells, elephant barricades, boundary wall, and a landscaped garden. However, the respondents shall ensure that not a single tree is cut or damaged in the process.” It added that all works will remain subject to the final outcome of the petition.Elephants charge at estateDays before the order, an elephant herd went on a rampage at the estate, damaging vegetation and parts of the landscaped area. “There were four to six elephants that were camping at the estate for almost a week. The herd came till the main building of the estate and the living quarters of the security personnel. While they did not cause any damage to the building, several trees and small structures in front of it were uprooted and the garden was trampled,” said a member of the security staff.Forest officials confirmed the incident but declined to elaborate. Sources said the forest department has consented to barricading around 150 acres, estimating costs between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 3 crore. However, experts warn this could disrupt an already stressed elephant corridor.A conservationist working in the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) landscape said the 470-acre estate forms part of a key corridor linking BNP with Savanadurga forests. “Hundreds of elephants move every year through this corridor in search of food and water. The waterbodies at the estate offer them a perfect refuge. But barricading 150 acres of the estate that abuts the forest would snatch away the much-needed space for these jumbos, forcing them to sneak into adjoining human habitations in the coming days... The fact that jumbos camped near the main building of the estate itself is testimony to this. The govt must reconsider its proposed project,” the conservationist said.
