Bengaluru: Elected representatives, especially corporators or councilors, are expected to take up developmental works as per the requirement of the residents of the respective locality. Residents’ welfare associations or ward committees play a vital role in chalking out developmental works in the respective area.
However, corporator of New Thippasandra ward Shilpa Abhilash has decided to have her own way in deciding what type of developmental works should be taken up. In the process, the first-time corporator has decided to go against residents and also to violate Karnataka High Court order.
The issue pertains to a vacant plot at Jeevan Bhima Nagar. The vacant plot, measuring around 8,000 square feet, has become a prestige issue for the corporator who wants to convert it into a football ground. A few days ago, the corporator’s husband Abhilash, accompanied by staunch followers, put up two goal posts much against the residents’ wishes.
According to the residents, the vacant plot was demarcated as green area as per the Comprehensive Development Plan of 2005-2015. The residents had fought a legal battle for the open space since 2004. The High Court had directed the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to ensure it as a green area. “We once again observe as long as plot No. 2 in the master plan is shown as green area, respondent No. 4 to 7 shall not carry out any development whatsoever. Respondent No. 2, being the planning authority and respondent No. 3, Corporation shall see to it that no such development is made either by these respondents or any other person on plot No 2,’’ the High Court said in its judgment dated on September 23, 2013.
The residents opine that vacant space is suitable for a park and not for a football ground. They complain that local corporator’s husband had dumped mud blocking the way to Kittur Rani Channamma Park. “The place is suitable for a children’s play area or a park. We have been appealing to the authorities concerned to develop a park at this place since it is earmarked as a green area. It will prevent miscreants to misuse this vacant place during the night. It is a dangerous for the residents even to come out of their homes during the night if the place is converted into a football ground and keep it open,’’ says Balaji Vaidyanathan, a member of LIC Colony Residents’ Welfare Association.
According to P Narayan, vice president, LIC Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, majority of the residents wanted the authorities concerned to convert the vacant place into a park and a play area for children. Narayan said the residents contemplate to file a case against the BDA for not converting the space into a park as specified under the Comprehensive Development Plan of 2005. “The corporator’s husband, along with a few miscreants, had even tried to manhandle one of the members of the association. His intention is to help a private school that is situated a half km away from this place. This space is small in size and not suitable for a football ground,’’ said Narayan.
When contacted, Shilpa Abhilash, as usual, her husband responded. “We want to develop the vacant place into a football ground and a shuttle court for the benefit of local residents and children since there is no playground in this area. There is no shortage for parks in this area. We have asked the BBMP ward engineer to prepare the estimation for this,’’ said Abhilash.
However, the residents said that they do not have a park despite having around 20 civic amenities sites in this area. The civic amenities sites are: a) Community Centre ordered by High Court on plot No. 10 (LIC), b) Association for People with Disability (CA site No. 3), c) Govt School, d) Police Station, e) Two BDA CA sites that were auctioned, f) Private Nursing Home (on CA site No. 5), g) Temple (next CA site No. 5), h) Safal outlet (on Main Road), i) Welfare Association for Rehabilitation of Disabled (on Main Road), j) Hopcom outlet (on Main Road), k) Mini Bal Bhavan (on CA site No. 6), l) Association for Handicapped (CA site No. 6), m) Round Table (CA site No. 6), n) Private PU and Teachers’ Training College (on CA site No. 6), o) Bus Stand (converted play area on CA site No. 7), p) Sneha Trust (converted play area on CA site No. 7), q) Water Supply Station, r) BDA Shopping Centre (CA site No. 10) and s) Commercial Centre (vacant) on CA site No. 9.
Meanwhile, local MLA S Raghu was not available to comment.
