B’lore to lose more greenery

B’lore to lose more greenery
Deccan Herald


Bangalore will have less of green cover. The final Master Plan 2015 cleared by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Board is learnt to have approved a further cut in the green cover for the City.

The 742 sq km green belt earmarked in the 1995 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Bangalore had already been reduced with the draft Master Plan 2015 providing only 565 sq km of green cover.

It is now learnt that several pockets in the draft Master Plan have been opened up for developmental purposes. This includes around 20.5 sq km of land falling in the BMIC Planning Authority (BMICPA) which was not included in the draft plan, sources told Deccan Herald.

The draft Master Plan 2015, prepared under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, covers a local planning area of 1,306 sq km and consists of 387 villages, seven City Municipal Councils (CMC) and one Town Municipal Council (TMC). In other words, it will cover the entire Greater Bangalore jurisdiction. The BDA Board approved Master Plan on December 22, is now with the government.

Announcement soon

The formal announcement on the highlights of the final Master Plan is likely to be made by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in a couple of days. The Master Plan is now subject to the approval of the State Cabinet.

The final plan will serve as the foundation for developing strategic plans and local area plans, and finally, designing neighbourhoods till 2015. A substantial number of the 19,000 suggestions and comments received from the public for changes in the draft CDP were primarily objections to properties being declared as falling in valleys, the sources close to the scrutiny of the suggestions said.

As per the BDA Act, no development activity is allowed in the green belt. The Master Plan focused on protecting the area around the Thippagondanahalli reservoir, tankbeds and valleys in the City to prevent flooding of low-lying areas during rains and help groundwater recharging.

HOW GREEN WAS MY CITY

*742 sq km green belt in 1995 CDP was cut to 565 sq km

*Draft Master Plan - 2015 covers 1,306 sq kms: 387 villages, 7 CMCs, 1 TMC

*BDA board cleared plan on Dec 22

*Under BDA Act, no development activity is allowed in green belt

*Master plan focus is on protecting the area around Tippagondanahalli reservoir, tankbeds and valleys

*The idea is to prevent flooding of low-lying areas during rains and help recharge the water table