Citizen groups protest commercialisation of residential areas.
Bengaluru: Bengalureans are at it once again. Having succeeded in stalling the steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal, which would have cost the city hundreds of trees, they are now coming together to save their neighbourhoods from the onslaught of commercialisation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already been flooded with 7,000 postcards protesting against the draft Common Zoning Regulation, which allows commercial activity on roads that are over 29.5 feet wide in residential areas. In fact, he could get as many as a lakh by August 15 as people strive to save their city's environment once again.
Mr Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO of Namma Bengaluru Foundation reveals that his organisation has also given a formal letter of objection to the government.
“We want the government to realise that this it is not just a few people, who are opposing the draft, but the whole city. Citizen groups and Resident Welfare Associations have started sending postcards to the Chief Minister. We aim to send one lakh postcards by August 15 and get the Chief Minister's attention on Independence Day," he explains. Contending that the safety and freedom of children, women and the elderly will be compromised if the draft becomes a reality, he points out that the city is already choked with commercial establishments on roads that are less than 40 feet wide.
“All that residents want is a safe neighbourhood and to put a stop to reckless commercialisation ruining it. We hope the government hears our demand and withdraws the draft notification on Common Zoning Regulations,” he adds.
