Yet another green canopy under threat

Yet another green canopy under threat
Poornima Nataraj, Bangalore, May 23, DHNS:

The green canopy on Hosur-Lashkar Road would soon be a thing of past as this is one among the 207 roads to be widened to make the city commuter friendly.

The stretch comprises several small scale commercial establishments especially along the Adugodi extension, which the owners will have to give away. Owners of nearly 200 small shops who have set up their small businesses for the past 20-30 years are unwilling to oblige with the Transfer Development Rights scheme.

“We have no idea on the extent of property proposed to be acquired. There are some markings on our walls which says it is 15 feet. Even if we agree to TDR scheme, constructing another floor above the remaining property is not feasible,” Manjunath, who owns a 20x50 feet shop-cum-residence said. None of the shop owners have so far received any notice from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Sudarshan, a local resident said shop owners are very much for development projects, but not at the cost of losing out their property and receiving nothing in return. “We will agree to TDR, provided the compensation is at par with that paid by the Metro Rail project authorities,” he added. Papanna, another shop owner, perceives the road widening project as a nexus between land sharks, politicians and Palike.

Another major building to lose its garden space and compound walls is ‘Elgin apartments’ located on the stretch. President of Elgin Apartments Owners Association Purushotham feels that road widening is not required in the first place at the apartment junction. “The TDR is just an eye-wash where we will be receiving just peanuts. Moreover, even the compensation paid will not be enough for rebuilding expensive compound walls and redesigning the building, he added.