Goodbye Garden City? Bengaluru Trudges Closer To Fewer Open Spaces

Bengaluru: If Karnataka government's latest bill gets the Governor's nod, the city of Bengaluru could lose its moniker of the Garden City.

The Karnataka government has decided to reduce open spaces and parks to 10 per cent of the area in future layouts. The Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Bill seeks not just to reduce the required open spaces in layouts to 10 per cent, but also reduce the area to be earmarked for civic amenities to just five per cent.

Earlier this year, Governor Vajubhai Vala had sent back the bill but now the cabinet has decided to send it again to Raj Bhavan.

However, the opposition and civic activists have criticised the government for not realising the importance of open spaces and parks in reducing pollution and heat.

"Government agencies can't work on the same formula that private companies are functioning on. Government should spend more money to procure green spaces, not reduce the green spaces," said BJP leader Dr Ashwathnarayan.

Environment activists have demanded a change in the rule to increase open spaces to 15 per cent in private layouts to be on par with layouts formed by government bodies.

They have also questioned a lack of public consultation while taking such crucial policy decisions.

"There was no discussion held. As far as citizens are concerned, they have forgotten citizens' participation and consultation," said the President of Citizen Action Forum DS Rajshekar.

The ruling Congress however defended the plan saying it is to help make owning a site more affordable.

"This is for the benefit of the common man where the government can reduce the value of the sites and make it more affordable to the middle class, lower class and the upper middle class," said Congress lawmaker Rizwan Arshad.

Activists and the opposition parties are now exploring various options to try and stall the amendments to ensure that there are enough open spaces in urban pockets for the next generation.