Angry residents resolve to claim their green patch

Angry residents resolve to claim their green patch

Plan legal steps against palike for 'encroaching' on kids' section

Senthalir S. Bangalore



After their efforts to stop the demolition of the children's play area failed, the undeterred residents of KEB Layout BTM Stage I are planning to move the court to get back the portion of their park that made way for a road.
On Saturday afternoon, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demolished the children's play area of the park for the 16-ft road that cuts across the park.
The 18,000-sq ft park is located between the sixth and seventh main of KEB Layout. The layout, which was approved in 1996, consists of 220 residences, spanning seven roads, mains 1-7, all of which are dead ends. The residents alleged that the road was laid through the children's park only to provide a passage for vehicles bound to a Sai Baba temple located in the seventh main.
"The BBMP cannot demolish the portion as it is a civic amenity area. The park was developed according to the layout plan formulated in 1996.
We never had problems till now. Just for the comfort of a few, we cannot sacrifice our park," said Deveyani Harshavardhan, an angry resident of KEB Layout.
Thomas I, a resident of third main, said despite protests from the residents, the BBMP went ahead with its plans by laying the road.
"We had filed a complaint with the police when we came to know about the demolition of the children's play area. But the police came only to protect the demolishers," said Anuradha Padmanabhan, who has been living in the area for more than 20 years.
"They uprooted about 20 trees. But we want our park back and are approaching the court next week. We won't give up the fight.
"The park should be protected as it is the lung space of the area. We have filed a complaint with the BBMP commissioner. But no action has been taken so far," she said.
Huzefa, five-year-old girl, tearfully said "We used to play here after school. Nothing is there now. Where is the space for us?"bulldozed: KEB Layout residents say the road through the park was laid for vehicles bound to a temple