JOIN USPressure on CM to drop club plan
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa have come under severe pressure to give up their plans of converting Balabrooie government guesthouse into a legislators’ club.
On Saturday, a group of well-known Bangaloreans came together to petition the chief minister and the speaker to express their ire against the move.
They will submit a memorandum to Siddaramaiah and Thimmappa asking them not to disturb the heritage building. They will also stage a silent demonstration against the government on Sunday opposite Balabrooie at 11 am.
Artist S G Vasudev, theatre personality Sreenivas G Kappanna, writer Prakash Belawadi, musician Suma Sudheendra, filmmaker B Suresh, architect P Naresh Narasimhan and ex-Infosian T Mohandas Pai among others addressed the media to express their protest against damaging the heritage building.
Under the banner ‘Save Balabrooie Committee’ (SBC), the members of The Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) and Bangalore Political Action Committee (B-Pac) have jointly taken up the cause of saving the structure which is not less than 150 years old.
Addressing the media, Vasudev said losing a heritage site in Bangalore is like losing a limb. About 15 years ago, Manikyavelu Mansion, a government heritage building, was saved and now it houses National Gallery of Modern Art. The government must realise that heritage sites are the soul of the City and they should be protected, he said.
There are many places in Bangalore which could be used to construct or house the proposed legislators’ recreation club. There is already inordinate delay in saving many heritage sites. “This is the first step taken to save a heritage building. We have got together now and we will stand for all sites in future. We will also question the elected representatives to explain their contribution to Bangalore City and its heritage,” he said.
According to an estimate, a decade ago, Bangalore had over 2,000 heritage sites. These included structures as well as parks. Now, hardly 400 have remained. “It is not just Balabrooie which is facing the threat. The plight of buildings of Turf Club, KR Market and Mysore Tobacco Company, and structures around Mayo Hall and Public Utility Building too face similar fate. It is time to have a sound heritage policy. The draft policy is before the government but no progress has been made.”
The members said the issue is larger than just saving Balabrooie. The effort is to bring to light the insensitive nature and attitude of the government.
Elected representatives want to enjoy free entry into famous clubs in Bangalore. But as many do not have access to clubs, they are keen on having an exclusive recreation club by destroying a 150-year-old historic site. They wondered as to why a proposal which was not considered by the government for seven years, has now gained momentum. They said they were ready for a legal battle for saving the heritage building.