Citizens say unplanned infra work killing Bengaluru, seek urgent reforms
The protesters warned that the city is collapsing under the burden of unplanned development, environmental destruction and governance failures. They alleged that the Karnataka government is ignoring constitutional mandates, bypassing due process, and pushing arbitrary non-plan projects that threaten the city's future.
'GBGA overturns the 74th CAA and the state government is taking charge of the city in violation of the Constitution. Due process is being bypassed for projects like the tunnel road, which has not been approved by the MPC or BMLTA. In fact, BMLTA has disapproved of it as being against mobility goals. Under the Act, taking up projects without BMLTA approval is punishable.
Further, citizens have been disempowered under GBGA by giving councillors veto power over ward committees and by abolishing area sabhas that allowed residents to participate in planning their neighbourhoods,' said Kathyayini Chamraj, Executive Trustee of CIVIC Bangalore.
Sandeep Anirudhan from Citizens' Agenda for Bengaluru criticised the state government's proposal to reduce buffer zones of lakes. Stressing their ecological importance, he warned that without protecting lakes, wetlands and green cover, the city faces collapse. He added that the government has ignored the Constitution by failing to provide a metropolitan planning authority, a proper master plan, and devolved urban governance.
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