Until now they have been fighting for their own localities, but the draft Common Zoning Regulations (CZR) have united Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) across the city for a common cause: preserving Bengaluru’s calm residential neighbourhoods and the unhurried life that once epitomised the city.
Nearly 250 residents from 35 RWAs across Bengaluru – representing localities in Indiranagar, Koramangala, Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Malleswaram, Vishweshwarapuram, Ulsoor, Banaswadi, Jeevan Bima Nagar, Thippasandra, HAL 3rd Stage, Whitefield, and Domlur – met on Saturday to chalk out a plan to oppose the regulations which they fear will lead to the commercialisation of completely residential neighbourhoods. Members of these RWAs will be filing objections to the regulations and are planning a multi-pronged approach to get officials to take notice.
In the coming week, RWA representatives, along with members of Citizens of Bengaluru and Citizens Action Forum, will begin a campaign to bring other citizens on board. This will include locality-specific campaigns, a post-card campaign asking residents to write to the Chief Minister, and a short film on how the regulations could affect the city.
The proposed Common Zoning Regulations, if implemented, will overrule the city’s Master Plan. It will also undo the struggle by citizens’ groups against rampant commercialisation of residential areas in the city, as it allows commercial use of land on all roads that are 29.5 ft (9 metres) or wider.
“Decisions on local spaces should be made by the people who live there, and not thrust upon them by the State government. We will appeal to all citizens to send a postcard to the Chief Minister asking him to withdraw the regulations,” Aruna Newton, president, HAL 2nd Stage Residents’ Welfare Association, said.
Koramangala 6th Block Joint Secretary Neeraja Shetty said that people were ready to come on to the streets if need be. “The general consensus is that unless we come out on the streets, nothing is going to happen,” Ms. Shetty said.
Citizens say that the CZR violates the 74th Amendment of the Constitution, which states that the Municipal Planning Committee for Bengaluru has the prime responsibility for city planning. “The regulations make a mockery of the role of municipal corporations in framing rules for the city,” V. Ravichandar, member, BBMP restructuring committee, said. He added, “Rules under a Master Plan are framed after deciding on a vision for the city. Here, they have knocked off the rules and expect the vision to still stand.”
The city’s spirit
For old-timers of Bengaluru, the memories of the city are of shady tree-lined avenues and a slow, unhurried pace of life. And while the city may have grown beyond any of their expectations, it still carries remnants of its old moniker ‘Pensioner’s Paradise’.
To make people understand the consequences of the regulations which could commercialise all neighbourhoods in the city, residents have thought of bringing out a film on the issue. Aruna Newton, president, RWA, HAL 2nd Stage, who is behind the making of the film, said it will strike a chord in people’s hearts and remind them of what the city once stood for. “We want everyone to understand what we stand to lose if the regulations come to pass,” said Ms. Newton.
