Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan instructs to construct houses for Puttenahalli Lake encroachers

Puttenahalli Lake ‘Rehabilitation in Bettadasanapura to be completed soon’

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has instructed the officials to quickly construct houses in Bettadasanapura for the rehabilitation of those encroached on Puttenahalli Lake.

Citing a special report published in Prajavani on May 27 under the title ‘Increase in Encroachment in Puttenahalli Lake’, the minister has ordered the Slum Development Board Commissioner to ‘undertake the construction work and distribute the houses to the beneficiaries as soon as possible.’

The Revenue Department had handed over 2 acres and 24 guntes of land in Survey No. 20 of Bettadasanapur to the Slum Development Board in 2014 to rehabilitate 118 families encroaching on Puttenahalli Lake. The BBMP had also given Rs 1 crore. The board had not constructed houses for various reasons. This had increased encroachment on Puttenahalli Lake. After a detailed report was published in about this, the Minister held a meeting of the officers and instructed them to take action.

Also read…….. Puttenahalli Lake: Neglect of rehabilitation: Encroachment increases

‘Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Sarvarigi Suru Yojana, approval has been given to construct four-storey buildings in 10 blocks in Bettadasanapur. Tenders have been called for this and the contract has also been awarded. Earlier, ‘Ottuvaridaars’ had demanded that ‘we don’t want sheds, we don’t want houses, we want sites’. There is a case in court and they have said that they will finally get the flats. Thus, the construction work will start. There is also an order from the court and the Lokayukta. Bangalore South Assembly constituency M. Krishnappa will perform the Bhoomi Puja soon, and the work will be completed in about one and a half years on a ‘fast track’ model, said Slum Development Board Commissioner Ashok.

Check and take action: M. Krishnappa

‘The houses being built in Bettadasapura will be given priority to the people of our constituency. How can they be given to people from other constituencies here? We will check and discuss with the authorities that this land has been given to the squatters in Puttenahalli Lake for rehabilitation, and action will be taken,’ said Bangalore South Assembly constituency M. Krishnappa.

• 240 units; Houses being built by Slum Development Board
• ₹18.83 crore; Construction cost of G+3 buildings
• 900 sq ft; Carpet area of ​​each unit

 Puttenahalli Lake: Encroachment not cleared for a decade; Revenue Department not providing compensation

Puttenahalli Lake: Neglect of rehabilitation: Encroachment increases

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Revenue Department has neglected to rehabilitate the encroachers in Puttenahalli Lake, and the number of encroachments in the lake is increasing day by day.

The government has provided land for the rehabilitation of the encroachers and the BBMP has provided money for infrastructure, but even after a decade, no rehabilitation facilities have been provided. Although the court has ordered twice that the eviction operation should not be carried out before taking an appropriate decision on rehabilitation and providing it, senior officials of the Revenue Department have not taken action.

While the rehabilitation of the encroachers is being delayed, the number of encroachers in Puttenahalli Lake is also increasing. Although the lake has been well developed, because of encroachment maintaining cleanses being difficult. In September 2023, the BBMP had submitted an ‘action plan’ to the High Court stating that the encroachment of Puttenahalli Lake would be cleared within 75 days. No action has been taken even after a year and a half.

BBMP officials have closed the file with a statement stating that ‘The High Court had ordered in 2015 that the encroachment should not be cleared until the encroachments in Bettadasapura are rehabilitated.’ BBMP officials also say that money has been given to the Slum Development Board to construct a building. However, even after a decade, the BBMP, Revenue Department, and Sewage Elimination Board have not come forward to clear the encroachments and provide rehabilitation.

The Puttenahalli Lake in J.P. Nagar Phase 7 was developed by the BBMP in collaboration with the Puttenahalli Neighborhood Lake Improvement Trust a decade ago at a cost of crores. The trust has done a lot of work to protect the lake and has been involved in cleaning and greening the lake since 2008. As a result of all this, today, about 122 species of birds can be seen in the Puttenahalli Lake.

A petition signed by more than 1000 residents near the Puttenahalli Lake under the platform ‘Residents in the Vicinity of Puttenahalli Lake’ of J.P. Nagar Phase 7 has been given to local MLA M. Sathish Reddy. Referring to this letter, Sathish Reddy wrote a letter to the District Collector in November 2024. But no one is interested in rehabilitating or removing the encroachments.

Departments that have not taken action: Usha

‘Encroachments have remained in the Puttenahalli lake yard for decades. Letters have been written several times to the BBMP, the District Collector, and local MLA M. Sathish Reddy requesting them to take action in this regard. Although the court has ordered twice that the encroachers should be rehabilitated and then evicted, there is no coordination between the departments, and one is shirking responsibility by pointing fingers at the other. Since the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department has not taken action, if the Chief Secretary intervenes and takes action, the lake, which has been developed at a cost of crores of rupees, can be kept clean,’ said Usha Rajagopalan, chairperson of the Puttenahalli Neighborhood Lake Improvement Trust.

Land given: Deputy Commissioner

‘2.5 acres of government land has been provided in Bettadasapura for the rehabilitation of Puttenahalli lake squatters. The district administration does not have the responsibility for the construction of buildings and houses, including infrastructure. Action should be taken by the Slum Development Board,’ said Deputy Commissioner Jagadish.

Letter: Land has been handed over to the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation’ for rehabilitation in Bettadasapura. The Lokayukta and the High Court have given directions, but no progress report has been submitted so far. The Deputy Commissioner wrote a letter to the Commissioner of the ‘Karnataka Slum Development Board ’ on September 19, 2023, requesting him to provide information about this immediately. However, there has been no progress.

 SPV for MAJOR works with ₹7,000 crore grant from the government

‘B-Smile’ for infrastructure development

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: A special purpose vehicle (SPV) – ‘Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited’ (B-Smile) has been set up to implement massive development works with a grant of ₹7,000 crore from the state government for infrastructure development.

The principal engineer and chief engineer have been assigned to ‘B-Smile’ by BBMP, and the posts have been recreated and merged for that.

The name of ‘B-Smile’ has already been registered and the process of registering the company is in progress. Long-term infrastructure works including tunnel roads, flyovers, skydecks, white topping, buffer roads, etc. will be undertaken in the city through this company.

Since massive works need to be implemented quickly, the necessary human resources need to be provided and the office needs to be started. Also, since the Greater Bengaluru Administration Act has come into force, BBMP needs to be divided in four months and new municipal corporations have to be formed. Therefore, the government on Friday issued an order merging the post of Chief Engineer of BBMP with ‘B-Smile’ on a full-time basis.

BBMP Engineer in Chief B.S. Prahlad has been appointed as the Technical Director of ‘B-Smile’. 

Due to the division of BBMP and the creation of new municipal corporations, the posts and functions of the corporation have been revised. Thus, the post of Chief Engineer of the Planning-Central Division of BBMP has been divided.

The post of Chief Engineer of the Planning-Central Division and the functions related to buildings and structures have been merged with the post of Chief Engineer of the Health and Sanitation Department.

The functions related to road development works including white topping and flyover have been merged into the post of Chief Engineer of Road Infrastructure Department. This post has been transferred to ‘B-Smile’ and ordered to be transferred.

Since Engineer in Chief B.S. Prahlad has been appointed to ‘B-Smile’ on a full-time basis, the BBMP Chief Commissioner has been instructed to appoint an in-charge for the posts of Chief Engineer of BBMP’s Road Infrastructure and Major Drainage Department until the government appoints him.

Office immediately – Prahlad

‘Major works need to be started with government funds. ‘B-Smile’ office needs to be established immediately, and the office will be started at the Smart City office or at a prominent location in the central area,’ said ‘B-Smile’s’ Technical Director B.S. Prahlad.

₹750 crore released

Bengaluru: The Urban Development Department on May 20 released the first installment of ₹750 crore for the year 2025-26 under the state government’s ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme to the BBMP.

Under the Special Infrastructure Scheme, works on major roads, flyovers, corridors, etc. are in progress. The bills for these works are pending and if they are not paid, there is a possibility of delay in progress. Therefore, the money has been released from the ₹3,000 crore allocated for the year 2025-26, the order said.

 66 lakes were completely dried in mid-April; 63 lakes overflowed on May 20

2,605 crore liters of water in Bengaluru lakes

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The pre-monsoon rains in the city have caused a flood of water in the lakes, with 2,605 crore liters of water accumulating in 183 lakes.

The city received double the usual rainfall in May, and water has come to the lakes that were in the process of drying up. On April 11, 66 lakes were completely dry. 44 lakes had less than half and 13 lakes had three-quarters of water. On May 20, 63 lakes had overflowed. 40 lakes had more than three-quarters of water.

‘Cleaning work is being done near the drains of all the filled lakes and in the lakes. "Cleaning work is being carried out by deputing staff to clear the canals where the lakes flow, including garbage, sticks, plastic and other waste," said Preeti Gehlot, Special Commissioner of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Management Department.

19 lakes in the Yelahanka zone, 16 lakes in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone, 13 lakes in the Mahadevapura zone, 7 lakes in the Bommanahalli zone, four in the South zone, and two lakes each in the East and Dasarahalli zones are full.

Highest water filled lakes

Lake; Storage

Yelahanka; 244 crore litres

Jakkur; 109 crore litres

Rampura; 108 crore litres

Madiwala; 101 crore litres

Halsur; 92.5 crore litres

Rachenahalli; 84.9 crore litres

Doddanekkundi; 79 crore litres

Venkojirao; 73.6 crore litres

Doddabombammasandra; 70.4 crore litres

Hebbal; 68 crore litres

3,251.4 crore litres; Total capacity of 183 lakes

1,059.5 crore litres; Water storage on April 11

2,605.6 crore litres; Water storage on May 20

Which lakes are full?

Zone; Lakes

Bommanahalli; Dorekere, Venkojirao Lake, Kudlu Doddakere, Annappanakere, Subramanyapura Lake, Devarakere, Subedaranakere.

South; Gaudanapalya Lake, Kempambudhi Lake, Yediyuru Lake, Madiwala Lake.

East; Kelagina Bairasandra Lake, Halasuru Lake.

Rajarajeshwari Nagar; Bheemanakatte, Hoskerehalli, Gattigerepalya, Herohalli Lake, Lingadhiranahalli Lake, Andrahalli Lake, H. Gollahalli Lake, Chikkabasti Lake, Gandhinagar Hosakere, Mangammanahalli Lake, Dubasipalya Lake, Kenchanpura Lake, Kodigehalli, Bheemanaguppe, Kannalli Lake, Sulikere.

Dasarahalli; Nelegedaranahalli Lake, Dasarahalli Lake.

Yalahanka; Agrahara Lake, Kogilu Lake, Yalahanka Lake, Veerasagar Lake, Attur Lake, Narseepur Lake, Jakkuru Lake, Allalasandra Lake, Avalahalli Lake, Doddabommasandra Lake, Palanahalli Lake, Rachenahalli Lake, Harohalli Lake, Singapore Lake, Bettahalli Lake, Venkatespur Lake, Amritahalli Lake, Mediagrahara Lake, Kattigenahalli Lake.

Mahadevapura; Goshala Lake, Garudacharyapalya Lake, Haralur Lake, Horamavu Agar Lake, Kaudenahalli Lake, Mahadevapura Lake, Nageswara Nagenahalli Lake, Pattandur Agrahara-54 Lake, Pattandur Agrahara-124 Lake, Rampur Lake, Silavantana Lake, Seegehalli Lake, Vijanapur Lake.

 Three roads connecting the outer ring road to the city centre are in disarray

Road Work is slow; traffic, life miserable

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Motorists, who have been stranded for four years due to the work to connect the 'Namma Metro' to the Kempegowda International Airport, are facing hours of chaos on the roads every day due to the chaos of the three roads connecting the outer ring road to the city centre.

As an alternative to the outer ring road, the city centre can be connected through the 80-foot road near Veerannapalya, Nagawara Main Road, and Hennur Main Road. However, these three roads have deteriorated and due to the ongoing works for years, vehicular traffic has become difficult. Therefore, vehicles are plying only through the outer ring road and Hebbal Junction, resulting in hours of traffic congestion.

‘If the potholes on the road are closed and vehicular traffic is allowed, the traffic congestion will improve,’ said the traffic police on the outer ring road and the connecting roads.

‘We ourselves, instead of waiting for the BBMP, request them many times when trucks full of concrete come and close the potholes,’ said the traffic police. These words describe the BBMP’s work of repairing potholes. People living near the connecting roads curse the BBMP officer. But BBMP engineers say, ‘There will be some trouble for a while when the white topping work is going on.’

Connecting Road 1: The road starting from the 3rd Main Road in Veerannapalya on the outer ring road is badly damaged by potholes. There have been excavations for installing pipes here and there, but they have not been closed. There is a railway level crossing near Kanakanagar, and gates are often put up when trains are running. During that time, vehicles stop for half a kilometer. When the gate is opened, there is traffic jam due to vehicles coming from both sides. This connecting road, which runs along the KHB Colony main road, is not even 50 meters good. There are potholes everywhere. This connecting road, which joins the Dinnur main road near Pushpanjali cinema, is narrow and cannot accommodate two vehicles at a time.

Connecting Road 2: This connecting road, which runs from Thanisandra-Nagwara junction on the Outer Ring Road to Nagawara main road via Arabic College, Kadugondanahalli towards Tannery Road, also has BMTC bus traffic. However, due to the white-topping work and our metro work, we have to find a road. There is also a problem with the railway level crossing. In addition to digging to install pipes on the road, work is underway to install footpaths and ducts on both sides. The work has not been completed in any part. Thus, the road is full of potholes and vehicles get stuck in the wet soil. By the time they are cleared, vehicles line up. This is a common situation here every day.

Our metro station work is going on on both sides of Tannery Road, including Venkateshpura and Arabic College, and the road has become narrow. Autos that store waste are parked here, emitting a foul smell. Before connecting to Fraser Town, the road has become narrow near Bilalnagar, and even BMTC buses cannot ply.

Connecting Road 3: Hennur Main Road, which connects the Outer Ring Road to the New Airport Road, through the service road, has been undergoing white topping work for the past year on the road that reaches the city from Lingarajpuram, 80 feet road, 3rd block of HRBR Layout. The white-topping on one side has been completed, but it has not been opened for traffic. On the other side, the road has been dug up, obstructing the movement of vehicles. The footpath is filled with construction waste, making it impossible for people to walk. Two-three feet deep ducts have opened, causing vehicles and pedestrians to fall.

Link Road 1: Veerannapalya 3rd Main Road to Dinnur Main Road – Kanaka Nagar – KHB Colony Main Road – Dinnur Main Road – JC Nagar Main Road – Fun World – Jayamahal Main Road

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Link Road 2: Thanisandra Road – From Nagawara Junction – Nagawara Main Road – Arabic College – Kadugondanahalli – Arabic College Main Road – Tannery Road – Fraser Town

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Link Road 3: Hennur Main Road – Service Road – HRBR 3rd Block 80 Feet Road – ISKCON Temple Goshala – Lingarajpuram

What should be done immediately?

From the outer ring road to the central part, Veerannapalya, Nagawara Main Road-Tannery Road and HRBR Layout, at least the potholes on the 80-foot roads should be closed to allow vehicle traffic. Instead of closing the dug potholes after completing the kilometer-long work, the work should be completed within 100 feet and allow traffic. Then the work should be started in the next 100 feet. Water Board, BESCOM, BBMP and other organizations should coordinate and complete the work at the same speed. Heads of departments should frequently visit the places where the work is being done, resolve the existing problems and take responsibility for completing the works quickly. Work should be done near the railway level crossing for free traffic.

Don't listen to us: MLA A.C. Srinivas

'White topping work is going on from Nagawara Main Road to Tannery Road. People keep complaining about the problems here every day. Metro, water board, BESCOM, cable companies and BBMP are working. Each one is doing a different type of work. Every day, engineers are being talked to and instructed to complete the work quickly. Contractors are also being told. But, no one is listening, they are making excuses. The inspection work is being done with the Deputy Chief Minister and the work is being expedited,' said Pulakeshinagar assembly constituency MLA A.C. Srinivas.

Dust, health problems

They have been working for a year saying that they will develop the road from the Outer Ring Road to the Tannery Doddi Road via Nagawara Main Road. They dig holes, install pipes. They do not seal it properly. They say that after installing pipes everywhere, they will put wet mix. The dust is excessive, and people have many types of health problems. They have to wear masks here all the time. There is no business in the shops, everything is covered with dust and people do not buy. Robert, a resident of Kadugondanahalli, lamented that the condition of the hotels is such that they are closing down.

‘It’s like taking loans for food’

‘They have been building a concrete road for nine months, whether we want to work or not. We are street vendors. If there is business here, we eat our fill at night. But they are not completing the road work. For the past few days, they have left one section open to traffic. They often close it. Vehicles stand for kilometers in the evening. All the fruits are covered in dust and we have no business. It’s like we have to take loans to eat,’ said Syed, a fruit vendor on the 80-foot road of HRBR 2nd block.

 No construction, development allowed: Environmental activists appeal to Governor

Jnanabharathi: Let it be a ‘heritage site’

• A minister’s instruction to use 300 acres
• Chief Minister orders to declare it as a bio-forest
• Forest Department’s negligence towards notification

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Environmental activists have appealed to the Governor to declare the biodiversity forest in the Jnanabharathi campus as a ‘bio-diversity forest’ or ‘heritage site’ without allowing any development.

Environmental activists led by environmental activist Yellappa Reddy have written a letter to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, saying that no land should be given for any kind of construction to any institution, including UVCE, National Law School University and the Skydeck that BBMP intends to build.

Yellappa Reddy had started the work of making the Jnanabharathi campus a biodiversity site. Professor T.J. Renuka Prasad has continued that work and has created the city's largest 'biodiversity forest' on 660 acres. Hundreds of species of birds and mammals have taken shelter. It is filled with greenery, including Panchavati and Panchavalkala, orchards, Miyawaki, ottu forest, and thousands of sandalwood trees. This is the largest biodiversity forest among universities in India, filled with groves and gardens, and is a 'bio-geo-hydro park'. It is planned to destroy such a forest and give land to many institutions and build buildings. It is requested that this should not be allowed.

'Jnanabharathi Green Park is working as a storehouse of oxygen and absorbing carbon. In Jnanabharathi, Rotary, Lions, SWAT, Greens Army Force, Midita Foundation, Jeevanmukti, Adamya Chetana, Ayodhya, Youth for Seva and many other organizations have come together to create a biological forest of lakhs of trees in two decades. It is a favorite destination for air travelers. This forest, which also has rare trees, is planned to be destroyed in the name of development,’ complained H.K. Gowdaiah, secretary of the Jnanabharathi Vayu Viharigala Sangha.

In 2017, it was decided in the syndicate meeting not to give the land of Jnanabharathi to anyone. The government has also ordered to maintain it as a ‘biodiversity forest’. The UGC has also ordered to ‘grow an urban forest and make it a ‘biodiverse forest’. The Biodiversity Management Committee of BBMP has said in its study report that it is an ‘oxygen production center worth about ₹16,500 crore per year’. A minister has instructed to give about 300 acres of such a forest to other organizations. Accordingly, the former vice-chancellor of the university had also said that ‘land was given under pressure’. He has appealed that the forest in the Jnanabharathi campus should be preserved without succumbing to any kind of pressure.

‘Parisarakkaki Naavu, we, under the leadership of the organization’s president A.T. Ramaswamy, will fight to save the forest in Jnanabharathi and not give land to anyone here,’ said the organization’s Parashurama Gowda.

Demand to examine the report

‘The university syndicate has taken a decision to preserve the Biopark in the Jnanabharathi campus in 2017 and 2022. The NAAC has also said that all types of construction activities should be banned in the Jnanabharati campus. Therefore, the Jnanabharathi campus should be declared a ‘heritage site’ as per the Biodiversity Act- 2002,’ the committee formed by Bangalore University has reported.

‘On the complaint filed by the Jnanabharathi Airmen Association, a committee was formed on September 26, 2024, under the chairmanship of the Evaluation Registrar, to submit a scientific report to the Governor. Although this committee submitted a report, it has not been submitted to the Governor. The Governor should collect this report and take appropriate action,’ demanded Professor T.J. Renuka Prasad.

also read…. Jnanabharathi: Let it be a ‘heritage site’ ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ: ‘ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ತಾಣ’ ಆಗಲಿ 

ALSO READ… 371 trees in Railway Cantonment Colony: Now'Biodiversity Heritage Site' ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಕಂಟೊನ್ಮೆಂಟ್‌ ಕಾಲೊನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 371 ಮರ: ‘ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ತಾಣ’

ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ, ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶಬೇಡ: ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲರಿಗೆ ಪರಿಸರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರ ಮನವಿ

ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ: ‘ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ತಾಣ’ ಆಗಲಿ

• 300 ಎಕರೆ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಚಿವರೊಬ್ಬರ ಸೂಚನೆ
• ಜೈವಿಕ ವನ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಆದೇಶ
• ಅಧಿಸೂಚನೆಗೆ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯ

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು: ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ಕಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಅನುವು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡದೆ, ‘ಜೈವಿಕ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ವನ’ ಅಥವಾ ‘ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ತಾಣ’ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲು ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲರಿಗೆ ಪರಿಸರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಯುವಿಸಿಇ, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಕಾನೂನು ಶಾಲೆ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿರುವ ಸ್ಕೈಡೆಕ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಜಮೀನು ನೀಡಬಾರದು ಎಂದು ಪರಿಸರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತ ಯಲ್ಲಪ್ಪರೆಡ್ಡಿ ನೇತೃತ್ವದ ಪರಿಸರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲ ‌ಥಾವರಚಂದ್ ಗೆಹಲೋತ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಯಲ್ಲಪ್ಪ ರೆಡ್ಡಿ ಅವರು ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಆವರಣವನ್ನು ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ತಾಣವನ್ನಾಗಿಸುವ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕ ಟಿ.ಜೆ.ರೇಣುಕಾ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದ್ದು, 660 ಎಕರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಗರದ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ‘ಜೀವ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ವನ’ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಆಗಿದೆ‌. ನೂರಾರು ಜಾತಿಯ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ದುಂಬಿಗಳು ಆಶ್ರಯ ಪಡೆದಿವೆ. ಪಂಚವಟಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಪಂಚವಲ್ಕಲ, ಹಣ್ಣಿನ ತೋಟ, ಮಿಯಾವಾಕಿ, ಒತ್ತು ಅರಣ್ಯ, ಸಹಸ್ರಾರು ಶ್ರೀಗಂಧದ ಮರಗಳಿಂದ ಹಸಿರು ತುಂಬಿದೆ. ಭಾರತದ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ವನ ಇದಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಕಟ್ಟೆ, ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿ ‘ಬಯೊ-ಜಿಯೊ-ಹೈಡ್ರೊ ಪಾರ್ಕ್’ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ವನವನ್ನು ನಾಶಮಾಡಿ ಹಲವು ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಭೂಮಿ ನೀಡಿ, ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲು ಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡಬಾರದು ಎಂದು ಕೋರಲಾಗಿದೆ.

‘ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಹಸಿರುಧಾಮ, ಆಮ್ಲಜನಕದ ಕಣಜವಾಗಿ, ಇಂಗಾಲ ಹೀರಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ರೋಟರಿ, ಲಯನ್ಸ್, ಸ್ವಾಟ್, ಗ್ರೀನ್ಸ್ ಆರ್ಮಿ ಫೋರ್ಸ್, ಮಿಡಿತ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್, ಜೀವನ್ಮುಕ್ತಿ, ಅದಮ್ಯ ಚೇತನ, ನೆರವು, ಯೂತ್ ಫಾರ್ ಸೇವಾ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವಾರು ಸಂಘ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ಜತೆಗೂಡಿ ಎರಡು ದಶಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಮರಗಳ ಜೈವಿಕ ವನ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ವಾಯುವಿಹಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ತಾಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ಅಪರೂಪದ ಮರಗಳನ್ನೂ ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಈ ವನವನ್ನು ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಶಪಡಿಸಲು ಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ’ ಎಂದು ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ವಾಯುವಿಹಾರಿಗಳ ಸಂಘದ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಎಚ್.ಕೆ. ಗೌಡಯ್ಯ ದೂರಿದರು.

2017ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಂಡಿಕೇಟ್ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿಯ ಜಮೀನನ್ನು ಯಾರಿಗೂ ನೀಡದಂತೆ ನಿರ್ಣಯ ಆಗಿದೆ. ‘ಜೀವ‌ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ವನ’ವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರವೂ ಆದೇಶಿಸಿದೆ.  ಯುಜಿಸಿ ಕೂಡ ‘ನಗರವನ ಬೆಳೆಸಿ ‘ಬಯೋಡೈವರ್ಸ್ ಫಾರೆಸ್ಟ್’ ಮಾಡಲು ಆದೇಶಿಸಿದೆ. ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿಯ ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ನಿರ್ವಹಣಾ ಸಮಿತಿ ತನ್ನ ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ವರದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ‘ವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು ₹16,500 ಕೋಟಿ ಮೌಲ್ಯದ ಆಮ್ಲಜನಕ ಉತ್ಪಾದನಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರ’ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು 300 ಎಕರೆಯನ್ನು ಇತರೆ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳಿಗೆ ನೀಡಲು ಸಚಿವರೊಬ್ಬರು ಸೂಚನೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದರಂತೆ, ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ಹಿಂದಿನ ಕುಲಪತಿಯವರು, ‘ಒತ್ತಡಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿ ಭೂಮಿ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದೆ’ ಎಂದೂ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರು. ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ಒತ್ತಡಕ್ಕೆ ಮಣಿಯದೆ, ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿಯ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ವನವನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

‘ಪರಿಸರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಸಂಘಟನೆಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಎ.ಟಿ. ರಾಮಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅವರ ನೇತೃತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ವನ ಉಳಿಸಲು, ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾಗ ನೀಡದಂತೆ ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ’ ಎಂದು ಸಂಘಟನೆಯ ಪರಶುರಾಮಗೌಡ ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.

 ವರದಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಲು ಒತ್ತಾಯ

‘ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ಸಿಂಡಿಕೇಟ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ 2017 ಮತ್ತು 2022ರಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಬಯೊಪಾರ್ಕ್‌ ಅನ್ನು ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ನಿರ್ಣಯ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ  ಎಲ್ಲ ರೀತಿಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಷೇಧಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ನ್ಯಾಕ್‌ ಕೂಡ ಹೇಳಿದೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಆವರಣವನ್ನು ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ– 2002ರಂತೆ ‘ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ತಾಣ’ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಬೇಕು’ ಎಂದು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದ ಸಮಿತಿ ವರದಿ ನೀಡಿದೆ.

‘ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ವಾಯುವಿಹಾರಿಗಳ ಸಂಘ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದ ದೂರಿನ ಮೇರೆಗೆ, ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲರಿಗೆ ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ವರದಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲು ಮೌಲ್ಯಮಾಪನ ಕುಲಸಚಿವರ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ 2024ರ ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್ 26ರಂದು ಸಮಿತಿ ರಚಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಈ ಸಮಿತಿ ವರದಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದರೂ ಅದನ್ನು ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲರಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿಸಿಲ್ಲ. ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲರು ಈ ವರದಿಯನ್ನು ತರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಸೂಕ್ತ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು’ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕ ಟಿ.ಜೆ. ರೇಣುಕಾಪ್ರಸಾದ್‌ ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿದರು.

 Greater Bangalore Administration Act to come into effect on May 15

BBMP will be Greater Bangalore from May 15

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will cease to exist from May 15 and will be known as ‘Greater Bangalore Area’ (GBA).

The Greater Bangalore Administration Act, 2024 cannot come into effect until BBMP is notified as GBA. The Cabinet meeting on Friday approved the implementation of this Act and the notification to expand the Greater Bangalore Area, Law Minister H.K. Patil informed a press conference.

As per Section 1 (2) of the Greater Bangalore Administration Act, 2024, the notification required to notify the Greater Bangalore Area and to implement the Act as per Section 1 (3) and to appoint an Administrator for the Municipal Corporation as per Section 131 will be issued on May 15.

The existing BBMP area will be notified first as ‘Greater Bangalore Area’. Due to the dissolution of BBMP, an Administrator will be appointed for the ‘Greater Bangalore Area’. After the appointment of the Administrator, the rules and legal provisions of the municipal corporations will be framed in accordance with the act. Rules will be implemented for the authorities functioning under the municipal corporations and duties and functions will be assigned. The Administrator can exercise all the powers as per the rules.

The Administrator who comes to power after the dissolution of BBMP should seek the direction and guidance of the government while carrying out the functions involving public interest. Article 131 states that if a question arises regarding any policy matter, the decision of the government will be final. That is, the BBMP administration will become the ‘Greater Bangalore Area’ after May 15, and the government will control everything through the Administrator.

After the enactment of the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Act-2024’, the ‘Greater Bangalore Authority’ (GBA) headed by the Chief Minister should be formed within 120 days. The Bangalore Development Minister is the Vice-Chairman of the Authority. The MLAs-Ministers of Greater Bangalore, Urban Development Minister, Mayors of Municipal Corporations, BDA Commissioner, Bangalore Water Board Chairman, BMTC, Managing Director, BMRCL Managing Director, BESCOM Managing Director, Deputy Commissioners of Revenue Districts, Bangalore City Police Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer of Bangalore Metropolitan Road Transport Authority, Managing Director of Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited, Director of State Fire and Emergency Services, Commissioner of Urban Road Transport Directorate, Metropolitan Commissioner of Bangalore Metropolitan Area Development Authority are the members. The Chief Commissioner of Greater Bangalore Authority is the Member Secretary.

Act: The ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill-2024’, which was passed in the Legislative Assembly on March 13, was sent to the Governor for his assent on March 17, 2025. The Bangalore Town Hall Organization and delegations of BJP leaders had submitted a petition to the Governor stating that the bill is against the 74th Amendment of the Constitution and will create problems similar to those that occurred during the bifurcation of the Delhi Metropolitan Corporation. They had also demanded that the bill be stayed. 

The Governor had returned the bill on March 25 saying, ‘I have examined both the petitions. This bill covers matters of legal and public interest. Therefore, clarification is required on the important issues raised in both the petitions.’ The state government had given the necessary reply to it. The Governor had given his assent to the bill on April 24. That evening itself, the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Act-2024’ was notified and published in the Gazette.

Three Municipal Corporations!

From May 15, only the BBMP area will be called the ‘Greater Bangalore Area’, but the area will expand in the future. There is a plan to create three municipal corporations of about 125 wards each, and the boundaries of the ‘Greater Bangalore Area’ will be marked accordingly.

There is a possibility that the industrial areas around the city, including Electronic City, Attibele, Jigani Industrial Area, Bommasandra, Sarjapur, Bagalur, Rajanukunte, Hesaraghatta, Dasanapura, Makali, Tavarekere, Kumbalagoda, Kaggalipur, Harohalli, will be included in the ‘Greater Bangalore Area’.

As per the act, the names of all municipal corporations have to start with ‘Bengaluru’. They will be named ‘Bengaluru Central Municipal Corporation’, ‘Bengaluru Uttara Municipal Corporation’, ‘Bengaluru Dakshina Municipal Corporation’… It is said that three or five municipalities will be formed after the 'Greater Bengaluru Area' is expanded.