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New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru lakes under siege with new lake law
BENGALURU: Lake activists in Bengaluru have raised strong objections to the state cabinet's approval of the Tank Conservation and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes reducing buffer zones around lakes to as little as 3 metres, allowing commercial and industrial activity. Activists feared that he move will accelerate encroachments and endanger lake ecosystems. With less than 5% of wetlands left in the city, activists have called the government's move extremely irresponsible and dangerous, claiming it is not in the interest of the public but rather serves real estate lobbies. They alleged that the bill is designed to legitimise large-scale encroachments under the guise of development. Buffer zones are an integral part of wetlands but are being taken for granted, activists argued. They emphasised that the state government cannot override central legislation. 'It is absurd that citizens now have to approach the courts to remind the government of this basic constitutional principle,' they said, referring to existing central laws like the wetland rules and NGT rulings. 'We have lost nearly 95% of our original wetlands in Bengaluru. What remains is barely 5%, and now even that is under threat,' said Sandeep Anirudhan, Convenor, Coalition for Water Security and Citizens Agenda for Bengaluru. He added that buffer zones are not separate entities that can be tampered with, as they play a critical role in filtration, flood mitigation, and providing sanctuary for flora and fauna. Drawing from satellite data, he said, 'In 1970, Bengaluru had over 70% green cover and 20-30% wetlands. Today, green cover is down to 2-3%, wetlands are just 4-5%, and concrete has taken over 95% of the city. This kind of destruction is a one-way path to environmental collapse.' Ram Prasad, co-founder of Friends of Lakes, said, 'The government doesn't have the courage to remove illegal constructions in lake buffer zones. Instead, they are trying to legitimise these encroachments by passing this bill. This is nothing but a pro-builder, real estate-driven move, done at the cost of public safety.'
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru residents lose faith in inspection charades
BENGALURU: How effective are inspections by BBMP's senior officers? Three weeks after the inspection by Mahadevapura Zonal Commissioner at MIMS Gulmohar Road, Athashri Road and Prithvi Layout in Whitefield ward, 200 odd buildings were found with violations. The Zonal Commissioner had directed Assistant Executive Engineers of Hoodi subdivision and Whitefield subdivision to issue notices but it appears that the officials have failed in their duty. Alleging maladministration by the BBMP officials right from the town planning officials who failed to check the plan deviation and ward engineers for unauthorised floors and setback violation, residents say, they have been complaining, but the BBMP officials have failed to act. 'During Lokayukta raids, so much cash and kind were found from BBMP officials and it appears that all this unaccounted money and things found from BBMP engineers in the past are examples of their involvement in corrupt practices, including not taking action and helping the building bylaw violators,' residents alleged. Echoing the same, Sandeep Anirudhan, Convenor, Citizens' Agenda for Bengaluru, said that, the engineers—AEs, AEEs, EEs—appear inept or incapable of dealing with their responsibilities. 'Some drastic reforms are called for. The existing laws and mechanisms are unable to hold officials accountable or punish violators,' he said.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's airport flyover plan encounters scepticism
Nitin Gadkari Sandeep Anirudhan City-based mobility experts have raised concerns over Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar's recent proposal to the Union Ministry for a dedicated elevated flyover connecting Hebbal Junction to Kempegowda International the Deputy CM's letter tounderlines that a signal-free, dedicated flyover would drastically cut travel time for airport passengers, industrial freight vehicles, and daily commuters, experts say such decisions should be based on a scientific analysis of the situation. It is said that any more road networks in the city should be created only after a feasibility such large-scale boost to road infrastructure projects is likely to result in a surge in private vehicle usage.'All mass transit projects, metro or suburban rail, are facing challenges with deadlines. While these projects are terribly behind schedule, a series of road infrastructure projects are being announced by our Deputy CM. Such initiatives will only worsen traffic congestion in the city,' said a mobility Deputy CM's letter to the Union Ministry claimed that since the existing 35-km corridor from Hebbal to the airport is choked with traffic due to rising industrial activity and the emergence of commercial hubs, the new flyover could serve as a critical lifeline for the city's to, Convenor of Citizens' Agenda for Bengaluru and a mobility expert, the root cause of the traffic issue is lawlessness being practised by the decision-makers. He points to the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which states that every metropolitan area shall have a metropolitan planning committee to prepare a draft development plan. Bengaluru has been devoid of such a committee so say that the government keeps adopting the band-aid approach instead of pursuing holistic development. A flyover or tunnel is seen as a temporary solution that fails to address the root causes, allowing the underlying issues to persist and escalate over time.'We are fed up with the executives ignoring the constitution, the provisions for urban planning, master plan, capacitance of the metropolitan planning committee (MPC), etc, as a result of which the city is paying the price in terms of unplanned development. We don't need a panacea, we need a cure,' he said. He emphasised that planning must take precedence, with a master plan issued through due process, ensuring that only recommended projects are systematically undertaken. He added that the Union Minister should insist on Karnataka having an operative master plan, with an embedded transport plan, before any funds are disbursed to the state.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Citizens' Groups Raise Alarm Over Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, Mull Legal Challenge
Bengaluru: The passage of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, into law has triggered a wave of concern and resistance among citizen groups and civil society organisations in the city. The Bengaluru Town Hall movement, a prominent pressure group advocating for transparent and decentralised governance, has voiced strong objections, citing violations of constitutional principles and procedural lapses. In a statement issued on Thursday, the group expressed dismay over the Governor's assent to the bill, stating that the law has been enacted 'despite strong objections from citizens and civil groups,' and that its provisions undermine the very spirit of democratic decentralisation enshrined in the Constitution. 'The objections were very serious, especially about violations of the Constitution and lack of due process, and lack of public consultation,' the statement read. 'This law goes against the spirit and letter of the 74th Amendment/Nagarpalika Act 1992, which is the very essence of our democracy.' The 74th Constitutional Amendment, passed in 1992, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of urban democratic governance in India. It mandates the creation of elected municipal bodies and devolution of powers, functions, and finances to urban local governments. Critics of the new Bengaluru legislation argue that it centralises authority, reduces the role of elected representatives, and gives greater control to the state government and bureaucracy. The Bengaluru Town Hall movement, comprising civic activists, urban planners, legal professionals, and residents' welfare associations, has announced that it is actively studying legal options to challenge the newly enacted law. A team is being constituted to explore the viability of a legal recourse. 'We are constituting a team to pursue this. We shall announce our plans shortly,' said Sandeep Anirudhan and Prakash Belawadi in a press release issued today by the BTH. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, was introduced by the state government with the stated aim of streamlining administration and improving service delivery in the rapidly growing metropolitan area. However, activists contend that the process of drafting and passing the bill lacked adequate public consultation and transparency. 'Any change of this scale to the governance structure of a city like Bengaluru must be subject to wide-ranging consultations, involving citizens, local representatives, and experts,' said a senior member of the Town Hall movement, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Instead, the bill was rushed through without hearing the voices of the people who live and work in this city.' Legal scholars and constitutional experts have also weighed in, with some raising red flags about the bill's compatibility with the framework laid down by the 74th Amendment. If a legal challenge is mounted, the outcome could have far-reaching implications not just for Bengaluru but for urban governance models across India. Meanwhile, civic activists are calling for increased public awareness and mobilisation to resist what they describe as 'an erosion of local self-governance.' Discussions are also underway for a citywide campaign to educate citizens about the impact of the new law on urban democracy. As Bengaluru continues to grapple with complex urban challenges — from mobility and housing to waste management and water supply — the controversy over the governance bill has sharpened the debate around who truly governs the city, and how.
