Shrinking green belt causes concern

Shrinking green belt causes concern
The Times of India

Bangalore: Over the past decade, nearly 32 sq kms of green belt have been encroached upon in Bangalore, which has gone unchecked. The violations are agricultural, partly industrial and pre-dominantly residential in the form of illegal layouts.
The greenbelt is spread over 742 sq km around Bangalore, of which 32 sq km area has violations. This was identified by French Consultants when they carried out the masterplan for Bangalore. Now, the issue is being taken up by the joint legislature house committee on land encroachment survey.
However, the masterplan, which has projected city’s growth till 2015 has suggested opening up of 248 sq kms of the green belt area to accommodate 221 sq kms of projected urbanisation. Barring the catchment areas of Bannerghatta and Tippagondanahalli reservoir, government has opened up selected portions of the green belt in eastern and northern parts of the city.