Proposed cricket stadium near Bannerghatta National Park in Bengaluru triggers eco concerns

Bengaluru: Even as Supreme Court continues to examine the eco-sensitive buffer zone surrounding Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), Karnataka govt’s decision to build a massive international cricket stadium near the park has triggered opposition from green activists and residents.

The 80,000-capacity stadium -- touted to be the second largest in India -- is to be built at Indlawadi village in Anekal taluk of Bengaluru Urban district. CM Siddaramaiah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone Saturday.

The 70-acre site identified for the stadium falls within the larger eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of BNP, the extent of which remains under judicial scrutiny. In 2020, the buffer zone around BNP was reduced from 268 sqkm to 168 through a govt notification. However, after the move was challenged in Supreme Court, a court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) inspected the area earlier this year and recommended restoring the original 268 sqkm buffer zone.

The stadium, estimated to cost Rs 943.4 crore, is being developed by Karnataka Housing Board (KHB), which floated tenders in April. Activists questioned how the govt could proceed with this when the ESZ issue is still pending before the apex court. They warned that floodlights, heavy traffic, crowd noise and rapid urbanisation could severely disturb the fragile ecosystem around BNP.

Activists said the region is a critical elephant corridor and an important ecological link connecting Cauvery and Male Mahadeshwara wildlife sanctuaries.

Shivakumar, a farmer from Indlawadi village, said the project site is barely half a kilometre from the forest boundary. “The stadium will create a lot of noise and disturb animals. In such situations, their behaviour could become unpredictable and that could endanger farmers and villagers in the vicinity,” he said.