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A press note from Environment Support Group (ESG) calls out citizens to ask Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) not to plan Bengaluru, in the wake of BDA notification of public hearing related to Revised Master Plan - 2031.   This small advertisement of extraordinary significance appeared in the papers a couple of weeks ago. It does not say much. Notice that no document or map is made available as a basis for debate and feedback. And if you review the BDA website, all you find about the 2031 Master plan is the minutes of a meeting soliciting consultants to prepare the…

In the recent past, there have been quite a few instances where the courts have intervened with respect to civic projects. The recent one was when the Karnataka High Court directed civic agencies to widen the Hulimavu-Begur road- a case where the BBMP and a real estate company were at loggerheads. In another case, the Karnataka High Court directed the BBMP to get rid of encroachments on footpaths – this order was passed in response to a petition filed by an individual to make footpaths accessible to pedestrians. Yet another case was when the High Court ruled mixed land use…

Pic: Nikita Malusare Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), in association with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), conducted its second Rashtriya Lok Adalat at BDA headquarters in Bengaluru, aiming to clear cases pertaining to Arkavathy layout. Matters related to other layouts remained unheard. The aim of the Lok Adalat was to resolve allotment or possession cases of BDA sites. Such an adalat would also minimise the need for citizens to approach courts and spend money on lawyers and face never-ending litigation. At the inaugural function, Justice N K Patil, the judge of Karnataka High court pressed on the need to evolve…

It is quite common in Bengaluru for builders and developers to build houses on other people's lands, or on public lands like lakes. After all, the city used to have more than 500 lakes, and now has only 183. Therefore, we must conclude that the most common activity that occurs on lakes is construction !! It is also quite common in Bangalore for such things to happen with the full knowledge of the local ward engineer of the BBMP. In theory, this official is responsible for making sure that such encroachments don't happen, but in practice he is the one facilitating them…

BDA Flats in Nandini Layout (1 BHK EWS Quarters). Pic: Ganga Madappa Namma Bengaluru, with its burgeoning population, is witnessing a sea change in the kind of housing that is available for its citizens. Even in as recently as 2005, those looking to invest or set up base in Bangalore, preferred to buy a site and build their house from scratch. The reality now is different. While people will probably always prefer to own an independent house, the lack of space has made it necessary for them to look upwards. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2012, in line with…

Appendix-3.7 (Reference: Paragraph 3.16, Page-116) Details of donations made by BDA during 2009-12 Sl. No. Recipient of the donation Amount donated (` in lakh) Date of payment Purpose for which donation given 2009-10 1. Mahabodhi Society, Bangalore 5.00 25 April 2009 Celebrating 2553rd Buddha Jayanthi 2. Karnataka Olympic Association 1.50 12 May 2009 Awareness to donate human organs in an accident 3. Vidyarthi Shikshana Seva Trust 2.00 15 May 2009 Sponsorship of Techno fair 4. Bangalore Nagara Zilla Kannada Sahitya Parishath 2.00 14 July 2009 Contribution for 5th Bangalore Nagara Zilla Kannada Sahitya Parishath 5. VHD Central Institute of Home…

The audit report by Comptroller Auditor General of India for the year ending March 2013 reveals that Bangalore Development Authority, which lacks funds for the development works it is supposed to undertake, donated Rs.10.19 crore for various purposes, including Chief Minister’s relief fund and flood relief fund by a TV channel. An amount of Rs. 2 crore each was donated to Chief Ministers’ Relief fund and Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, while the Institute of Nephro Urology and Karnataka Chalana Chitra Academy for Rs 1 crore each. Similarly Rs 5 to 10 lakh was donated to many institutions under…

The Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its report, has indicted the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) of not clearing the encroachment of Doddabidarakallu lake, before taking up restoration works, and not being able to complete the work as per the specifications. The CAG report on General and Social Sector for Karnataka for the year ending at March 2013, says that the BDA had accorded administrative approval for the work of restoration and development of the Doddabidarakallu lake at a cost of Rs 8.25 crore, in May 2010. The Lake Development Authority (LDA) approved the technical sanction to the work…

The High Court on Wednesday, February 19th, 2014, disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (WP 3676/2008) filed by Citizen Action Forum (CAF) and a few other civic groups in Bengaluru, that challenged the Draft Revised Master Plan (RMP) - 2015, prepared by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), that allowed commercial use of residential areas, through a land use category called "mixed residential." A division bench comprising Chief Justice DH Waghela and Justice BV Nagarathna issued a direction to the State government to amend the land use change rules of the BDA's Revised Master Plan to allow only the ancillary use…

Lake encroachment is rampant in Bangalore. This time, it is the turn of Somasundarapalya Lake near HSR Layout. About three days ago, residents of HSR layout reported that several tractors were offloading debris into Somasundarapalya Lake, also called Haralukunte Kere. The once healthy lake is now headed the way of the many lakes that no longer see the light of day. Repeated complaints to the police have failed to bring any attention to the matter. Concerned residents have written to several administrative bodies, including the Chief Minister, local police authorities, the BDA, BBMP and BMTF, in the hope that some…