Irked by BDA's 'apathy', residents walk out of master plan meet

Agitated people walked out of the public consultation meeting on the draft of Bengaluru Master Plan-2031 that was organised by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in Mahadevapura zone on Friday. 

People sought to know what had happened to the master plan-2015. Some land losers staged a walkout as they had not been paid compensation by the BDA till date.

Ajit Sequira, member of Whitefield Rising said they staged a walkout from the consultation meet as officials failed to explain how much of the previous master plan has been implemented. “Some of the proposals listed in the master plan-2015 were good. But they did not have any interim review report of what they have done and what corrections need to be incorporated in the new one,” he said.

Amarnath M, a resident of Doddagubbi in Byrati village said that many like him have lost their lands for the formation of the proposed Peripheral Ring Road. But till date there has been sign of compensation to them. The BDA has not acquired the land and have done nothing on ground. The land losers are also not allowed to develop or cultivate their land, he added.

Laly Randolf, former treasurer of the KPCL Residents’ Welfare Association and a resident of Kasavanahalli too questioned what the BDA has done with regard to its older plan and how much of it has been implemented. “The CDP-2015 had shown Bellandur as a hi-tech zone, but in reality and even now it remains a residential zone on BDA maps. However, there has been huge unplanned commercialisation of the area which has increased the chaos. The government had also promised to clear all illegal commercial sites, but nothing has been done,” she said.

Many residents of Avalahalli, Bidarahalli, Doddabanahalli, Doddagubbi, Dommasandra, Halanayakanahalli, Kodatti, Neriga, Seegehalli and Thigalanachowdenahalli questioned the officials on the development the BDA has ushered in in the areas, before chalking out the master plan-2031.
DH News Service