Astronaut for green B’lore

Astronaut for green B’lore
Deccan Herald

First Indian astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, on Friday launched legal battle to preserve the lung spaces of Koramangala...

First Indian astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, on Friday launched legal battle to preserve the lung spaces of Koramangala and other parts of Bangalore city. Mr Sharma, who is the President of City-based Citizens’ Action Group and several residents of Koramangala have moved the Karnataka High Court on Friday seeking a direction to the authorities to take steps for preserving open spaces in various layouts in the City.

The petitioners have complained that open spaces reserved for parks, playgrounds and other public purposes are fast disappearing as the authorities are allotting such lands to private parties.

The petitioners have also complained that the authorities had earmarked 514 acres of land for open space during the formation of Koramangala Layout and at present only 3.3 per cent of 514 acres remains as open space.

As per the Comprehensive Development Plan, 9.12 per cent of the land in a layout has to be retained as open space and the authorities have failed in their duty in this regard, the petitioners contended.

They have also alleged that several acres of tank bund area of Jakkasandra tank in Koramangala area were allowed to be utilised for other purposes and this situation has created flood in other parts of Koramangala during recent rains.

The petitioners sought directions to the Bangalore Development Authority and other agencies of the Government to provide details of open spaces earmarked in various layouts in the city. They also prayed for a direction to the authorities to find out shortage of lung spaces in Koramangala and other layouts and to preserve available vacant lands in such layouts as open space for maintaining 9.12 per cent of land in each layouts as open spaces. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nauvdip Kumar Sodhi and Justice N Kumar has ordered issue of notice to the Government and adjourned further hearing on the case.