Citizens to call MLAs to protest against zoning plan

To stall the zoning regulations proposed by the state government, Citizens for Bengaluru (CFB) launched a campaign of calling MLAs to convey their resentment.

The government recently brought out draft regulations which do away with the residential main and residential mixed category. There will be one category of “residential”. The government has allowed neighbourhood utilities (small shops) even in a plot on a 30 feet wide road, which hitherto was not allowed even on 40 feet wide roads in residential areas.

CFB floated a WhatsApp group CFB-CallMLA#OoruMaaraBedi inviting citizens to unite and protest against the draft zoning regulations that would destroy their neighbourhoods.

The message said, “We all know that there are a lot of illegal commercial activities in residential streets already. These new regulations will make them legal and even more commercial entities will come up everywhere leading to increased density and worsening of civic infrastructure.”

The group has asked citizens to file their objections before July 31 as an individual or on behalf of RWAs and associations. The group has accused the government of violating the 74th amendment of the Constitution because planning should be done by the local government and not the government. The rule violated the high court order pertaining to violation of zoning regulations.