YMCA drops land deal plan

YMCA drops land deal plan

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Following resentment from its members, the governing board of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) here has decided to shelve its plans for entering into an agreement with a private builder for joint development and commercialisation of 40,000 square feet of its precious property on Nrupathunga Road in the heart of Bangalore city.

The governing board had earlier adopted a resolution in favour of such a joint development and commercialisation of the property.

However, following resentment from its members, general public and media, the board, at its meeting held on Thursday, decided not to go ahead with the plans for joint development and commercialisation of its property.

The Hindu on May 22 carried a report on the resentment by the YMCA members and leading personalities against the moves to enter into an agreement with a builder for joint development of the prestigious property.

The report had referred to the apprehensions by members that the YMCA might lose this prestigious property in the name of joint development as it happened with its other two properties in Bangalore.

YMCA treasurer Noel Noronha told The Hindu that the board had taken note of the report at its meeting on Thursday.

He said the YMCA had adopted a new resolution stating that it would not go ahead with the plans for joint development of the property.

Several prominent personalities, including the former Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Philipose Matthai, and co-ordinator for the Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue P.N. Benjamin had opposed the move.

They had contended that commercialisation of the property would result in stopping socio-cultural and educational programmes being taken up by the YMCA now.

The commercialisation would pose a security threat to administration as this property lies between the Reserve Bank of India and the State Police Headquarters. Besides, commercialisation of this land abutting the Cubbon Park would not only pose an environmental threat, but also lead to violation of norms, they had said. YMCA drops land deal plan

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Following resentment from its members, the governing board of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) here has decided to shelve its plans for entering into an agreement with a private builder for joint development and commercialisation of 40,000 square feet of its precious property on Nrupathunga Road in the heart of Bangalore city.

The governing board had earlier adopted a resolution in favour of such a joint development and commercialisation of the property.

However, following resentment from its members, general public and media, the board, at its meeting held on Thursday, decided not to go ahead with the plans for joint development and commercialisation of its property.

The Hindu on May 22 carried a report on the resentment by the YMCA members and leading personalities against the moves to enter into an agreement with a builder for joint development of the prestigious property.

The report had referred to the apprehensions by members that the YMCA might lose this prestigious property in the name of joint development as it happened with its other two properties in Bangalore.

YMCA treasurer Noel Noronha told The Hindu that the board had taken note of the report at its meeting on Thursday.

He said the YMCA had adopted a new resolution stating that it would not go ahead with the plans for joint development of the property.

Several prominent personalities, including the former Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Philipose Matthai, and co-ordinator for the Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue P.N. Benjamin had opposed the move.

They had contended that commercialisation of the property would result in stopping socio-cultural and educational programmes being taken up by the YMCA now.

The commercialisation would pose a security threat to administration as this property lies between the Reserve Bank of India and the State Police Headquarters. Besides, commercialisation of this land abutting the Cubbon Park would not only pose an environmental threat, but also lead to violation of norms, they had said.