A GENEROUS ACT

A GENEROUS ACT
Vijay Times

Afew residents of Kottanur Dinne and Puttenahalli in the City have done what residents of other areas would not even have dreamt of doing.

They have surrendered their land to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), even before being asked for it.

Interestingly , over 200 people have parted with their lands and have not claimed any compensation for the same.

The residents, officials say , have become trend-setters.

While the BDA seems to have found favour with the public, the BCC seems to be at the receiving end.

It may be recalled that the BCC was having a tough time implementing the T ransferable Development Rights ( TDR), its ambitious road-widening project as the public and the police were not extending co-operation to it in this regard.

A 9 km stretch connecting Puttenahalli with Jambusavari Dinne of Kottanur, which was once a battered road, will be widened to 60 ft from the existing 40 ft by the BDA.

The public have given 10 ft of their land on either side of the road.

Health Minister and Bangalore District in-charge Minister R Ashok said that the public had volunteered to provide the land without claiming any compensation.

The Minister said that the work was being executed by the BDA and that it would cost Rs 12 crore.

The BDA had originally planned to develop the road by asphalting it. When the residents came forward to give their land, widening work was also taken up, Ashok said.

Residents of areas in and around Puttenahalli, Ganesh Mandir , Jambusavari Dinne and Kothanur are happy that their move has helped thousands of vehicle users.

The residents have expressed pleasure at having been able to provide land for the purpose as it would benefit over 2 lakh people.

The residents gave their land following a series of meetings with BDA officials.

"Some of the land along the Puttenahalli lake belongs to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the Forest Department and the Lake Development Authority (LDA). If they also donate their land, the project will continue smoothly ," said Mohanraj, a resident of Puttenahalli.

"No pressure was exerted on the public on this issue. They have become role models for others by donating their land and co-operating with the officials concerned," BDA official Lakshminarasimhaiah said.

The road would be developed in two phases.

In the first phase, a 3.5 km stretch between Puttenahalli Ring Road and Ganesh Mandir would be developed at a cost of Rs 3.44 crore.

Under the second phase, A 5.5 km stretch that passes through Ganesh Mandir, Konanakunte, Jambusavari Dinne and Kanakapura Road would be developed, the official said.

"Work on drains have been taken up. It will be completed by September 2006," he added.