BENGALURU: Resident Welfare Associations from across the city are planning to file a petition in court against the BBMP and BDA for not following the Karnataka High Court’s order and taking action against commercial establishments who operate from residential areas.
In 2012, Karnataka High Court had given an interim order banning these establishments from roads that are narrower than 40 feet. It was in response to citizen’s petition that challenged RMP-2015 or the Revised Master Plan by the BDA. Sowmya, one of the RWA members, says, “Despite the court order, these shops and offices continue to function.”
It starts with the opening of offices, says Soumya, who is part of the JP Nagar RWA. “This leads to traffic troubles, then eateries and small stores open shop. In our locality, we can’t walk down the roads now.”
The associations claim that in spite of writing letters to and meeting “BBMP Commissioners, leaders of oppositions and MLAs” nothing much has been done. They are now running an online petition, addressed to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “We have exhausted all options,” says Vijayan Menon, “so, after the online petition, we will go for legal action”.
The BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad says that notices have been issued to such commercial establishments, across eight zones.
“But I do not have the exact number of violators offhand. We have closed down a few, some have responded saying that they opened before the 2012 High Court order and hence the rule is not applicable to them and some have not responded to our notices at all... this would mean that they have nothing to say (in their defence). In such cases, we have start a process and they will be shut down in due course. Businesses of all kinds are violators. There are banks, pre-schools, shops and marriage halls. They open shop to cater to the needs of the residents in the locality.”
‘Peaceful Locality, now a Rowdy Hub’
K Umeshwara, who has been living in Koramangala for 35 years says that earlier, there was no shopping area other than BDA complex in KHB Colony in Koramangala.
“It was very peaceful before. Now, we are not even able to sleep well because of the bikes’ sounds.
It has turned to a rowdy’s place like Kalasipalyam.”