UR Rao calls for steps to save the city

Call for integrated approach to solve Bangalore's problems

The Hindu


BANGALORE, JULY 10. The well-known space scientist and former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), U.R. Rao, today called for immediate
steps to tackle the problems of Bangalore. Speaking a seminar as part of the celebration of the Kempe Gowda Day here, Dr. Rao said the planners had failed the city. Blaming politicians and the bureaucracy, he said the city faced a bleak future because of lack of proper planning.

It faced problems on all fronts such as roads, pollution, slums, inundation of low-lying areas during rain, and lawlessness. He sought to know why the Government passed
laws that it could not enforce. He said if these issues were not addressed immediately, the situation would go out of control. However, "the future of Bangalore is still in our hands" he said and added that it was time to evolve an integrated approach to find solutions to the problems facing the city.

The Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, who inaugurated the seminar, said the weather of the city had attracted people and investment. This had led to problems of urbanisation. Experts should throw light on how these problems could be tackled. Since Kempe Gowda, the city's founder, had brought professionals of different castes and creed to it from other places, Bangalore had a secular outlook, he said. The people of the city loved peace and maintained it.

S. Chandrashekar, geologist, regretted that the excellent lake system of the city had been spoiled. He called for steps to restore it. The Shivajinagar MLA, Katta Subramanya Naidu, who presided over the function, said the people should participate in the development of the city wholeheartedly. A. Ravindra, former Chief Secretary, and H.P. Shashidar, Retired Deputy Director, Karnataka Archives, traced history of Bangalore. Suryanath Kamath, historian, spoke on how the city had attracted global attention. Jyothi Bai, Professor, Maharani's College, spoke on Bangalore during the reign of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.