`Save residential areas, scrap master plan'

`Save residential areas, scrap master plan'

Staff Reporter

Concerned citizens discuss the future of Bangalore city

# Incorporate citizens' views in new plan: Chandrashekar
# `Develop open spaces as green areas and water bodies'



IN SESSION: The round table in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Rampant violation of zoning regulations, commercialisation of residential areas, drastic reduction of the green belt in the Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) proposed Master Plan and lack of coordination between civic officials and elected representatives: these were some of the issues that were discussed at a round table on the "Future of Bangalore City" here on Sunday.

Organised by Citizens' Action Forum and CIVIC Bangalore, the conference aimed at making suggestions to the Government to involve citizens in framing new policies for the new Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Major Pramod Kapur of Koramangala Initiative, who made a presentation on the CDP (Comprehensive Development Plan), urged the Government to scrap the existing Master Plan and prepare a new version. The Government should ensure that the "residential character of localities should be maintained at any cost."

"Zoning regulations should be strictly implemented and permission for change in land use should be granted cautiously.

"Otherwise, all residential areas will be indiscriminately converted into commercial ones with little respect for quality of life for residents," he said.

Expressing concern over the reduction in green belt from 56 per cent in 1995 to 35 per cent in the proposed Master Plan, Major Kapur suggested that all available open spaces should be developed into green areas and water bodies.

Agreeing with Major Kapur, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar, who moderated the discussion, said that it was essential for the Government to relook at the Master Plan and incorporate citizens' views in it.

"The Master Plan should also be aimed at ensuring social justice in the city. The urban poor and slum dwellers should get their place in the Master Plan," he said.

Kathyayani Chamaraj of CIVIC Bangalore, who made a presentation on the "Governance Structure of BBMP", said that although the 74th amendment to the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act makes it mandatory for the civic body to set up ward committees, the rule was hardly followed.

MLAs R. Ramalinga Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Roshan Baig, N.L. Narendra Babu, MLC M.P. Nadagouda, former Mayors P.R. Ramesh and Mumtaz Begum also spoke.

Representatives of various residents welfare associations, non-governmental organisations and some former corporators attended the conference.

Later addressing presspersons, Prof. Chandrashekar said that more discussions such as this one would be organised and suggestions on city's development would be sent to the authorities concerned.

That apart, MLAs, MLCs and civic groups will take up these issues for discussion at their levels, he added.