Bengaluru: Walkers, residents and activists continued their weekly protest against the proposed tunnel road project by forming a human chain on Lalbagh Rock Sunday. The group plans to hold the demonstration every Sunday until the project is stayed by the high court.Around 30 people gathered on the rock, voicing concerns over the tunnel’s potential impact on Lalbagh’s ecology and geological heritage, including its billions-of-years-old rock formation.However, protesters were unable to raise slogans because of restrictions on holding protests at locations other than Freedom Park. Police personnel also asked them not to display banners or placards. Organisers said the restrictions discouraged more people from joining the weekly demonstration.S Umesh Kumar, president of Lalbagh Walkers’ Association, said ongoing soil testing near the garden’s Siddapura Gate had encountered hard rock at a depth of around 60ft. “The next hearing of the PIL petition filed against the project in the high court is coming up on Aug 20. We expect the court to take cognisance of the project’s impact,” he told TOI.Activist Vinod Jacob urged more citizens to join such protests, saying the initiative should grow into a citizen-led movement to protect Bengaluru’s environment and remaining green spaces.
