'Only tree park if complex is razed'

Residents of Indiranagar and elected representatives on Monday met the BDA commissioner and demanded that the BDA complex is renovated and not reconstructed.

The residents asserted that if the complex is demolished, then a tree park be created on the six-acre land. The meeting was held at the BDA head office. MPs P C Mohan, Rajeev Chandrashekar and MLA C Raghu were also present on the occasion. On Saturday, the residents protested near the complex against the proposal to demolish it and build a multi-storied complex in its place.

Swarna Venkataraman, secretary of Indiranagar 1st Stage League RWA and member of I-Change Indiranagar, who was part of the meeting said: “We do not want a huge commercial complex. Indiranagar is already commercialised and all roads are declared commercial. The new complex will only make matters worse in terms of air pollution and traffic jams.”

Other residents said there was no need to axe 171 trees to reconstruct the complex. The residents said shopkeepers who have been temporarily relocated could get back the same space once the complex was renovated. Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation said: “Piles of garbage and dumped vehicles are strewn around. If all these are cleared and the existing complex is renovated there is no need to demolish it.” Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the redevelopment violated the NGT’s buffer zone order as it will kill the rajakaluve. “If an attempt is made to violate the tribunal’s ruling, there will be consequences which the BDA and the government will have to face,” he warned.

Reacting to this, Rakesh Singh, BDA commissioner sought three days’ time and said the matter will be placed before the BDA board. He also assured the residents he will visit the place.