BMRDA master plan prepared unscientifically'

BMRDA master plan prepared unscientifically'

Staff Reporter

Association seeks 45 days more time to file objections to the plan

BANGALORE: Land developers have alleged that Interim Master Plans prepared by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) have at least "50 per cent irregularities" and have called for an enquiry.

Stating this at a press conference on Wednesday, Dayananda Reddy, President of Karnataka Land Developers Association (KLDA), said the plans had been conceived in an "unscientific manner".

The BMRDA recently released the master plans for the local authorities of Magadi, Kanakapura, Hoskote, Nelamangala and Anekal, comprising 2,600 sq. km. and 1,100 villages with a population of around eight lakh. The authority had called for objections, the last date for which is May 18.

Citing examples of irregularities, Mr. Reddy said that the 200 acres of land previously allocated as residential layouts at Nerlur in Anekal taluk had now been converted to agricultural zones. "We would have created 5,000 sites with permission from the BMRDA itself. What is the purpose of such conversion?" he asked.

The proposed road and rail network had been framed in an unscientific manner as they passed through villages, he said and added, "When there is so much vacant land available in the surrounding areas, why must roads pass through people's houses?"

In Hoskote taluk, large areas of wetlands had been earmarked as residential areas when they would actually be suitable for agricultural development. "If the Dodda Amani Kere overflows, houses located on the wetlands are likely to get flooded," R.V. Someswaran, general secretary of KLDA, said.

The KLDA gave examples of duplication of survey numbers and non-allocation of buffer zones between residential and industrial areas in the master plan for the Anekal local planning authority.

It may be recalled that in the areas earmarked for development, the master plans allowed 34 per cent of the land to be utilised for housing, 30 per cent for industries, 16 per cent for parks and open spaces, 11 per cent for transport, and 4.5 per cent each for public utilities and commercial spaces.

Stating that the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act allowed 60 days for objections to be filed, Mr. Someswaran asked the BMRDA for extension of another 45 days to file objections. He asked for representation on the committee that the BMRDA had proposed to set up to examine the objections.

BMRDA stand

BMRDA Commissioner Sudhir Krishna said the Government Order had stated that the time to file objections was 15 days and that the law did not allow for representation of individuals on the committee.

As for the allegations made by land developers, Mr. Krishna said the objections would be addressed only after the committee examined them.