Park leased for hall construction

Park leased for hall construction
Bangalore,DH News Service:

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has signed a 30-year lease agreement with the Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha, leasing out the 7,500 sq ft plot of land to build a cultural hall for the Sabha.

For the elderly, women and children residing in Malleswaram, this park on West Park road, 11th cross, had been a unique green spot for their morning and evening walks. But today, the park is in danger of being converted.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has signed a 30-year lease agreement with the Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha, leasing out the 7,500 sq ft plot of land to build a cultural hall for the Sabha.

However, following protest on Sunday by ex-MLA and Gokula Education Foundation vice-chairman M R Seetharaman and local residents, the BBMP seems to have made a turnaround. If the Palike sources are to be believed, the Sangeetha Sabha will be asked to stay put at Gokula Hall in Malleswaram, its current location.

On Sunday, the demonstration in front of the park had brought the lease agreement to the fore. "The park is one of the few remaining green patches in the area. It is not clear as to how the Palike decided to lease it over to the Sangeetha Sabha," said Seetharam.
Following the protests, the Palike Joint Commissioner (West), V P Ikkeri and Chief Engineer B T Ramesh had visited the place and spoken to the demonstrators.

"We have received a request with regard to the issue and will forward it to the Palike Commissioner after verifying the documents on the lease," said Ikkeri.

It is learnt that the Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha was initially provided a hall for its activities by the Government. But, according to residents, the Sabha had made a representation to the BBMP for a new piece of land.

A few days ago, when morning joggers arrived at the park, they saw the Sangeetha Sabha laying the foundation stone for the new building.

When they questioned the workers and Sabha office bearers, they learnt that the BBMP had given the land on lease.

Following an RTI application, Seetharam learnt that the Palike had leased out the land to the Sabha for 30 years from December 1, 2004, on a monthly lease amount of Rs 11,348 with an increase of 10 per cent every year. The land was leased out for a specific purpose: "for construction of a cultural hall for conducting cultural activities like music, dance, etc.," as the lease deed put it.