Bengaluru: “The BDA needs to put the data that backs the Master Plan 2031 on the website, so that the public can scrutinise it. The Authority should also compare the last year's master plan with the new one, including the benefits, failures and causes of failure in the previous plan," said Mr Vinay Kumar, a citizen, who participated in the first public interaction by the BDA on the Master Plan 2031, in West Bengaluru on Friday.
The BDA presented a pre-draft proposal, highlighting three aspects – population, water and waste management.
BJP MLA Suresh Kumar, who made a presentation, said, “There will be 2.03 crore people by 2031 in the city, and of them, 50% will be the workforce. By then, three million affordable houses will be needed, 18,390 metric tonnes of waste will be generated per day and 50 tmcft of water needed." A resident, Subramanya, said, “The plan is vague. How do they plan to source 50 tmcft of water and provide housing to so many people?”
Majority of the citizens were keen on green spaces and water bodies. “The green spaces where agriculture is being pursued must be preserved. We need to have rules to prevent conversion of green lands for other purposes. Soon, there will only be parks left and no agricultural fields," commented Mr Umaraj, another resident.
Officials said that by 2031, the BDA will have 1,300 sqkm of planning area and the roads will be even more congested.
Speaking of three scenarios in the plan, Mr Suresh Kumar said, “The BDA will not compromise on developing the 6 Ring Roads and 30 Radial roads. We will also not compromise on protecting our tanks, valleys and forests by preserving the buffer area. Under the containment scenario, development can happen only in the Bengaluru metropolitan area and will not affect the surrounding green zone. Investments will be brought in to develop all major roads." BDA Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri and other officials stressed the need for public transportation to ease congestion. “63 km of Monorail/LRT, 200 km of Metro and double the number of BMTC buses will be needed,” they said. “We will take public suggestions. After 2-3 months, we will release the next draft which will involve the recommendations made by the citizens,” he said.
