Poll or no poll, some residents firm up plans

Poll or no poll, some residents firm up plans
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Amidst all the cynicism over the postponement of BBMP elections, the RWAs of South Zone showed their unity and desire to work for their city by coming together to discuss its growth trajectories, on Sunday morning.
Around 150 resident welfare association members from the southern part of the city — including Koramangala, Jayanagar, Ejipura, Domlur, Indiranagar, HSR Layout and BTM Layout — were present at the discussion at the National Games Village Builders’ Club.
Each had a woe to be voiced, starting from garbage disposal to open spaces. “If matters are to go the way they are now, the future of Bangalore is bleak.
EYE ON PLAN BENGALURU 2020
“Nobody is accountable for what is happening to the citizens of this area,” said C H Ram, Koramangala ST Bed Layout Resident Welfare Association member.
However, many said they will start taking on more responsibilities. Some have decided to follow Plan Bengaluru 2020, according to which a ward committee will be formed to take care of the issues in the area. “We hope to form a Koramangala United Citizens’ Council, which will consist of various recognized RWAs, some nominated people, MLAs, MPs and senior officials of civic bodies like BBMP, Bescom and BWSSB. An interim board has already been set up to work on the constitution of the body. We will work on all issues, including open spaces, water supply and even nurturing grassroot democracy,” one of the RWAs from Koramangala said.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP and ABIDe convener, who was also present at the function, told the residents to ‘embrace the blueprint’. “Almost 140 persons took the effort to make it. Anybody can make changes to it. But I request you to go through it and use it,” he said. The ward committees will help aspirations flow up and decisions to flow down. “Change will happen, but be patient,” he added.
What MLA B N Vijay Kumar had to tell the RWAs was to actively participate in the coming elections. “I request you all to go out and vote this time. I also want youngsters to participate in the civic matters of the city. It is only 60-plus people we see in the associations,” he said.
Answering the queries of the audience, the MLA said the BBMP elections will be conducted. “Rumours on whether the election will happen are baseless. This is a democratic set-up, and we will conduct the elections. The police will take care of the bogus voters,” he said.