Let us live in peace

Let us live in peace

The Times of India

Bangalore: A bustling hub with constant commercial activity is not not what senior citizens had bargained for when settling down at Banashankari II Stage. This, because some colonies in the area had been declared residential in the city’s Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).

But with Bangalore bursting at the seams, once-residential areas like Banashankari are seeing a sea-change. Residents, under the aegis of Banashankari II Stage Welfare Association, on Friday alleged that rampant violations of building bye-laws were taking place in their area.

Association secretary C.N. Krishnaswamy said: “We have been tracking some of the conversions — from residential to commercial — and several violations under the Karnataka Right to Information Act - 2000.’’ In the recent past for instance, the 24 Cross road had conversions of five residential sites — 591, 399, 2469/1, 2469/2 and 2469/P — into commercial, he maintained.

Further, in the case of site No. 645, though the owner sought and obtained licence for building a residential building, a commercial complex had been constructed violating bye-laws. Residents complained that they were denied a quiet and peaceful living because of such commercial activities.

To curb this, the association had suggestions to the BDA and BCC: The request for conversion of residential sites into commercial in purely residential portions of the colony should be summarily rejected; the health wing of BCC should scrutinise that trade licence be used only for the purpose shown in the sanctioned plan.