Residents, traders see red over govt move

Residents, traders see red over govt move
Deccan Herald

The State government’s decision, to stick to the proposed alignment of the Bangalore Metro, has not gone down well with residents and traders who are being affected by the project.

An emotional Anand Mailapur, President of the Mahakavi Kuvempu Road Residents and Traders Association, told Deccan Herald that they were ‘shattered’ by the decision.

“We were hopeful when Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy visited our road and promised to help us. But now, all our hopes are dashed,” he said.

“They promise to give us shops in BDA complexes, but can they give us our customers back? I do not document my VAT, but does that mean I will be given lesser compensation? I have taken debts to run my business, where do I go now? There are schools being demolished on the road, where will the

students go? We are going to appeal to the CM to retract the decision,” Mr Mailapur said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Premila Nesargi, who is leading the agitation of the members of CMH Road, Shops and Establishment Association, said that she was ‘not only disappointed, but also very angry’ with the decision.

What about people?

“The government is more concerned about saving dead men buried in a cemetery than about living people who will suffer because of the project,” she said. “We will study the Justice Bhat Committee report and the rehabilitation package before we decide on the future course of action. We are prepared to fight the case, in public and in the court,” she added.