Indiranagar residents oppose stadium plan on playground
The sudden announcement of a Rs 6.5-crore project, which includes a tensile-roofed stadium over the existing basketball court, has triggered outrage among the local community. "This is the only BBMP playground available to I and II Stage residents. It is used daily by children from the locality, nearby schools and from low-income neighbourhoods. Converting it into a stadium will restrict access and benefit only a select few," said Swarna Venkataraman, core member of I Change Indiranagar.
Residents are also questioning the lack of transparency. "In 2017, we secured a high court stay on a similar indoor stadium plan. Despite this, BBMP revived the project without public consultation," said Sneha Nandihal, co-founder of I Change Indiranagar.
Local groups argue that such a project will increase traffic and pollution in the already crowded neighbourhood. "The DPR falsely claims the playground is surrounded by wide roads. In reality, it's located in a densely packed residential zone. The proposed car park alone will consume the entire ground," said Ashok Sarath, president of Defence Colony Resident Welfare Association.
Calling for equitable access to public spaces, residents demanded that the Rs 6.5 crore be used instead to maintain and improve the existing playground. "Why enclose the only lung space left in our locality?" said DV Ashok, president of 1st Stage League RWA.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
States raise revenue loss concerns: GoM backs Centre's plan for GST rate rationalisation
The Group of Ministers on Rate Rationalisation gave its in-principle support Thursday to the Centre's proposal to overhaul the Goods and Services Tax (GST) design, even as member states raised concerns about potential revenue loss on account of the rate rationalisation. Six days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, announced the next big phase of reforms under the GST regime by Diwali, a gift for the common man, small entrepreneurs and MSMEs, in terms of reduced tax burden. The Centre has suggested replacing multiple slabs – 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent – with a broad two-slab structure – 5 per cent and 18 per cent – in addition to a 40 per cent special rate for sin and demerit goods. States said they do not oppose the 'pro-people' proposal, but it may result in revenue losses that will ultimately leave them with less resources to spend on common people in their regions. While Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister and GoM convenor Samrat Choudhary spelt out the panel's support for the GST overhaul proposal, he said observations made by states will be referred to the GST Council. Detailed discussions on items will be taken up in the Council, he said. 'We have deliberated upon the Centre's proposal to remove the two GST slabs, we have given our support and recommendations. Now, the GST Council will decide. All states gave their views, there were some observations by some states. Those will be referred to the GST Council,' Choudhary said. The differing views and observations of states on revenue loss and concerns over profiteering by manufacturers and companies will be part of the note that the GoM will send to the Council along with the Centre's proposal. Some states were also of the view that the work done by the GoM over the last few years will now essentially be wasted as they would be simply handing over the Centre's proposal to the GST Council. 'We have neither approved nor rejected it. Centre cannot give its proposal directly to the Council, so we will be just handing over the Centre's proposal to the Council,' a top state government official told The Indian Express. States are learnt to have sent their suggestions for the GoM's note on a mechanism to compensate states that will address their revenue loss concerns. States are anticipating annual revenue loss of Rs 6,000-10,000 crore, the official said. West Bengal's Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya echoed a similar view and said they are 'okay with the pro-people proposal' but it is not an agreement. The Centre's proposal has not outlined the figure for revenue loss on account of the GST rate rationalisation and the proposal should not move ahead without detailing a mechanism for compensating states for revenue loss. 'It's not an agreement in that way. If it's there, it is okay. If it is pro-people, then it's okay. But it has to be discussed in the Council's meeting also. There is no benefit in discussing it item-by-item in the GoM meeting. It will be discussed item-by-item in the (GST) Council meeting. While presenting a report to the GST Council, they will give a note of what we have said,' she said. Bhattacharya said no state had any issue in accepting the pro-people GST overhaul proposal. 'All states are pro-people. There is no doubt about it. It's nothing to talk about in politics. They are pro-people, let us take it for granted. But when the states lose their revenue, that also ultimately goes back to common people. That has to be looked into. That is what we have said,' she said. 'Because to give relief to common people should not mean that there isn't much left to spend on them after that, we have to think about that. That's why we have said that while you give the presentation, you must quantify it (revenue loss),' she said. She also said that ministers from BJP-ruled states have concurred with the suggestions. 'But we have said we are there, if it benefits people, we are okay. On the one hand it reaches people and on the other hand see what is the loss we (states) are facing. Ultimately if a state suffers any loss, that ultimately boils down to the suffering of the common man,' she said. Uttar Pradesh's Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the Centre's proposal was welcomed by all member states saying it is in the interest of the common man. 'States were asking that they should be compensated for revenue loss. The revenue loss will be calculated. Ultra luxury goods and sin goods will attract 40 per cent,' he said. Revenue loss concerns of states stem from the plan to prune the list of items in the 12 per cent slab and shift them to 5 per cent. There is also a concern that most items the existing 28 per cent slab. The Centre plans to introduce a special rate of 40 per cent, which will apply only to 5-7 sin, demerit and luxury items. States revenue loss concerns stem from the plan to prune the list of items in the 12 per cent slab and shift them to 5 per cent. There is also a concern that most items in the existing 28 per cent slab will shift to 18 per cent slab except sin and demerit goods. The Centre plans to introduce a special rate of 40 per cent, which will apply only to 5-7 sin, demerit and luxury items. Some states have suggested amending the GST laws to allow for an additional levy going beyond the current cap of 40 per cent (20 per cent Central GST plus 20 per cent State GST). Some of the items right now attract GST of 60-70 per cent, Bhattacharya said, adding that the law should be amended to ensure that the current tax incidence, especially on sin goods, remains at the current level.
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Musi project cost escalation: KTR accuses Cong Govt. of looting public fund
HYDERABAD Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao has accused the Congress government, led by CM A. Revanth Reddy, of looting public funds under the guise of the Musi Riverfront development project, and slammed the cost escalation. Addressing the media on Thursday, he reminded that it was the previous K. Chandrasekhar Rao government that brought Godavari river water to Kondapochamma Sagar, near Hyderabad, through the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) after approving a proposal with a budget of ₹1,100 crorein 2022. While the KCR government prepared a master plan and a detailed project report (DPR) with an estimated cost of ₹16,000 crore, the Congress government has now inflated the estimates to an astounding ₹1,50,000 crore, the former minister alleged. KTR warned that BRS would expose and prevent this 'scam'. He accused the Congress government of rushing the project to secure its position by bribing officials in Delhi, all under the 'guise of urban development.' He also criticised the Congress leaders for 'spreading lies' that the Kaleshwaram project has collapsed, while simultaneously announcing plans to use water from the same project for the Musi project.
India Today
30 minutes ago
- India Today
Karnataka refers crowd control bill to house committee amid Opposition concerns
The Karnataka government has moved to refer the Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Place of Gathering) Bill, 2025 to a house committee after facing strong opposition from rival parties over concerns it could restrict protests and affect cultural and religious Bill, tabled in the Assembly by Home Minister G Parameshwara, was introduced in the wake of the June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives. Parameshwara described the tragedy as a 'wake-up call' and said the legislation aims to ensure crowd safety and hold event organisers accountable. advertisementThe Bill requires organisers of events expecting 7,000 or more people to obtain police permission in advance, with those expecting over 50,000 attendees additionally required to provide an indemnity bond of Rs 1 crore. Applications for permission must initially be submitted ten days before the event, though Parameshwara later agreed to reduce this period to five days following opposition concerns. The legislation specifies that unpermitted events could attract penalties including imprisonment of up to seven years and fines of Rs 1 crore. Events resulting in injury or fatalities would carry up to seven years' imprisonment for injuries and up to life for or breaches of peace during events could result in three years' imprisonment and fines of Rs 50,000. The Bill exempts family functions and private events, including those in leased or hired venues, while religious events, mass marriages, and government functions are to be BJP legislator Suresh Kumar criticised the Bill as an 'afterthought' following the High Court's questions on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for crowd management, describing it as a 'postmortem Bill.'Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka expressed concerns that the Bill could become a tool for police misuse, asking, 'All political parties hold programmes or events. If something goes wrong, then what'll be the fate of that party? This must be thought about. This should not become a weapon for police. Think and frame rules.'Other legislators, including Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and BJP MLA Sunil Kumar, echoed these concerns, warning that powers granted under the Bill could be misused to target protests or certain communities, and questioned its applicability to spontaneous protests, religious festivals, or government events. Yatnal alleged the Bill seemed intended 'to target events of one religion and curtail protests' and warned it was 'more dangerous than what was done by the British.'Responding to the opposition, Parameshwara agreed to amend certain clauses, reducing the advance notice period to five days and exempting religious events, mass marriages, and government functions. Despite these assurances, opposition members maintained that the Bill required careful scrutiny before enactment and called for its referral to a house committee. The Speaker, UT Khader, subsequently confirmed that the Assembly's House Committee would review the legislation for detailed consideration.- EndsIN THIS STORY#Karnataka
