‘We need to develop satellite towns of Bangalore’

‘We need to develop satellite towns of Bangalore’
The Bangalore Social Forum (BSF), a city-level chapter of the World Social Forum, was formed on Independence Day this year. BSF chief coordinator S Krishnaswamy speaks to Sujit John about the body’s vision to create ‘another Bangalore’ through people’s involvement:
The Times of India


What’s the objective of Bangalore Social Forum?
Bangalore is growing very rapidly and has the potential to continue growing so. Traditionally, such city growth has severely affected civic amenities and has come at the cost of the poor. In Mumbai, we have just seen an effort to displace slum-dwellers from the city. In Bangalore too, we are beginning to see such issues emerge. The BSF is attempting to bring together a broad spectrum of people in Bangalore which could intervene to ensure harmonious growth of the city.

You are trying to bring people’s participation in local governance...
Yes. We are trying to bring together residents’ welfare associations, NGOs, social action groups, trade unions and others on a single platform and evolve a consensus on issues facing Bangalore. We also want to sensitise people on civic issues so that they learn how to tackle these issues. They can put pressure on local corporators and ensure that the whole process of deciding and implementing projects is transparent.

What suggestions do you have for Bangalore’s development?
We need to develop Tumkur, Kolar, Mandya and Mysore as satellite towns of Bangalore, develop people-friendly and costeffective transport systems between Bangalore and these towns so that people do not have to migrate to Bangalore and increase the burden on this city. Within Bangalore, we need a much better public transport system to reduce road congestion. We need to improve the condition of slumdwellers, provide them better accommodation, teach them hygiene, educate their children.

Wasn’t BATF (Bangalore Agenda Task Force led by Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani) attempting to do something similar?
We don’t think so. I know BATF will not agree with me on this, but they were primarily dealing with issues of the elite.

Is former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s recent outburst against the IT sector a reflection of the disenchantment with Bangalore’s current growth pattern among some sections?
His is more politics than any genuine concern for developmental issues. Politicians’ knowledge and expertise to handle the growth of a city like Bangalore is very limited. Which is why there’s a serious mismatch between politicians and technocrats. And that is why all sections of people must be involved in Bangalore’s development.