BENGALURU: THE trouble with the state government’s ambitious Indira canteens doesn’t seem to be coming to an end, with residents of two more areas protesting against the location. Previously, residents of Rajajinagar showed their disapproval. On Friday, around 100 Domlur residents and nine Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) protested in front of the BDA complex there, while residents of Vyalikaval Layout took to Twitter to voice their concerns.
Domlur residents said a canteen has been proposed inside a park, which will eat into the walkways. It has taken 15 years to develop the park with 80 trees.C R Lakshminarayan, Domlur corporator, said, “I have got `50 lakh sanctioned for further development of the park. The government did not ask us before selecting the place. MLA NA Harris has assured us to look into the matter.”
Nagaraj K C, 54, a resident, said, “There are 15- to 20-year-old trees in the park. If the park itself is around half an acre, the canteen occupies 2,000 feet, where will our walkways and culverts go? There will be sanitary problems. People will dirty the place. The BBMP’s argument that there is a Nandini parlour and HOPCOMS store hence a canteen shouldn’t be a problem does not hold merit.”
Shankar Punjabi, 55, a retired DRDO employee, said, “We are not against the initiative of the canteens. They will benefit the poor but they should choose another location.”
BDA Residents Welfare Association, Domlur Janapara Vedike, Domlur Kannada Geleyara Balaga, Shankarnag Abhimanigala Sangha, MIG Flats Residents Welfare Association, Domlur 2nd Stage Residents Welfare Association, HAL 2nd Stage Residents Welfare Association, Shankarnag Park Walking Citizens and Domlur Village Residents participated in the protest.
Shelve the plan,say angry residents
Residents of Vyalikaval Layout in Nagavara ward claim the land chosen for the canteen was meant for a park. The residents, via the twitter handle #VeerannapalyaRWA, asked Minister K J George and BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad to shelve the plan. The construction process has begun at the site. BBMP Assistant Engineer Mohan said, “The canteen will only come up in a 40x40 space.”