BBMP plan will cheat kids of playing area

BBMP plan will cheat kids of playing area
Residents, NGOs Livid At Idea Of Parking Lots Under Playgrounds
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Ten playgrounds in the city might soon be dug up to construct underground parking lots for vehicles, if the BBMP has its way. Needless to say, children will have to look elsewhere to play. Civic authorities who have hit upon this rather debatable idea will put forward this proposal before the council meeting on Friday. The move has attracted vehement criticism from residents,opposition parties and NGOs.
An angry opposition leader in the BBMP Council, M Nagaraj, told TOI: “The ruling party plans to pass a resolution to transfer mega projects like multi-level parking to BDA in the absence of standing committees. Legal opinion must be taken. Otherwise, it amounts to violation of the KMC Act. No resolution can be passed in the absence of standing committees. We will not let the council pass such an order. Public consent is a must. How can they destroy parks and playgrounds?”
Sports minister Goolihatti Shekar said he would oppose the move to have a parking lot in the Kanteerava stadium. “It was with great difficulty that we got our land back from Mallya hospital, which was using it for parking years ago. The land belongs to the Department of Youth Services and Sports and we have our own plans.’’
A similar proposal by the BBMP in 2007 was shelved due to public pressure even before the places could be identified.
Several voluntary bodies have raised objections. Convenor of Save Bangalore committee V N Rajasekhar said: “The multi-storied parking complexes on JC Road, Kempegowda Road have failed in serving the purpose. It is nothing but a builders’ lobby working.”
Former mayor M Ramachandrappa will stage a protest against the move on Friday in front of the BBMP headquarters. K Shivakumar, corporator from Shantala Nagar and a football player himself, staunchly opposes the plan.
“Akkithimmanahalli playground in Shanthi Nagar and Ashok Nagar playground in my ward are identified for the purpose. The playground will be lost if the construction begins there,” he says.
PLAYGROUNDS IDENTIFIED FOR PARKING PROJECTS
1. Ashok Nagar playground next to Garuda Mall 2. Akkithimmanahalli playground adjacent to Hockey stadium, Shanthi Nagar 3. Playground in front of Mallya Hospital 4. Hombegowda playground, Hosur Road
5. Telephone exchange
playground, Jayanagar 5th block
6. Malleswaram
playground 7. Gandhi Bazar market 8. Brigade Road 9. Russell Market 10. Vacant site next to Freedom park