The rapid growth of the city in the last few years is almost in proportion to the quietly disappearing open spaces in the city, especially playgrounds. An open space for senior citizens to take a walk, children to play or even to meet friends – are shrinking and very few residential pockets in Bengaluru can boast of such a place.
Citizen activists joined The Hindu for a chat on this issue on Sunday:
1. Swarna Venkat, vice-president Indiranagar First Stage RWA, Involved in trying to preserve a local playground
2. Nitin Sheshadri, president of Koramangala Residents’ Welfare Association, involved in trying to preserve a local playground
3. Utkarsh Singh, resident of Whitefield who has been working towards maintaining the city’s neglected green cover
Following is the transcript to the webchat:
The Hindu: With the ever growing clamour for prime real estate, public spaces in Bengaluru have shrunk at an alarming space. Recently we witnessed several protests by residents to protect playgrounds and other public spaces in residential areas.
Comment From Dr Anil: Hi Dr.Anil here from Vasanthpura ward Bangalore.We are fighting to develop a sanitary water filled lakemail erthswhile known as Vasanthpura Lake..
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: Hi everybody. Good to be on the event today. This is Nitin From Koramangala 3rd Block
The Hindu: We have with us Swarna Venkat, vice-president Indiranagar First Stage RWA; Nitin Sheshadri, president of Koramangala Residents’ Welfare Association; and Utkarsh Singh, Whitefield resident. Welcome all.
Utkarsh Singh:Hello everyone
Swarna Venkataraman, Indiranagar 1st Stage League RWA:
Hi everybody! Good to be here!
The Hindu:
Hi Nithin, Swarna and Utkarsh. Could you tell us in brief about your experiences in saving public spaces.
Nitin Seshadri : Open spaces are fast becoming the Bangalore version of the Cheetah -- endangered and approaching extinction ! We in Koramangala have a few open space issues that we have fought for and are fighting for
Utkarsh Singh:
Irresponsible development with zero adherence to proper town-panning is the key deterrent
Comment From Kaddi Ramesha
Is it not too late to have a discussion on open spaces? When the city was growing, there was no consideration for parks and playgrounds. Most areas have only buildings. how will BBmp or anyone else create new spaces in the congested city?
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
around 6 years ago our RWA came into existence to fight for preserving a park which was in danger of disappearing into the hands of real estate sharks. We succeeded.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
We have reclaimed successfully 2 acres of park, 3 acres of playground space which is now vibrant and used by hundreds
@kaddi -- No never too late
Swarna Venkataraman:Indiranagar 1st Stage has a playground, in fact the only one for both 1st stage and 2nd stage. Last Novemeber we residents protested and got a private cricket academy off the playground.
Utkarsh Singh:There are still enough spaces to reclaim; if you see any vacant land, check records on Bhoomi website. If it is government land, then push for converting it in to a public space.
Swarna Venkataraman:and the academy had structures, nets, pitches and the works.
Swarna Venkataraman:residents protested and with the help of bbmp we cleared the space for the locals and children
Utkarsh Singh:Great job saving that ground Swarna
Swarna Venkataraman:Now the same ground is a hot topic, with a plan for an indoor stadium and the offices of BMRCL andBBMP.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala:
Swarna - Fabulous fight by your Indiranagar team. Good that you won. We have a slightly similar problem to Indiranagar. Here a portion of our playground has been allotted by BDA to a society ostensibly to run a school. Problem is that society is linked to a particular politician from ruling party and the entire transaction looks like a land grab
Champaka Rajagopal: Hello, this is Champaka from Indiranagar. I am joining Swarna on the chat from the Indiranagar RWAs.
Nitin Seshadri: @Swarna, Champaka: Looks like the Indoor facility plan is officially scrapped ??
Comment From Guest: What is How do we stop commercial establishments coming up in a residential area?
Comment From umesh: How different is the issue of parks and public spaces in the core city (pre 2007 BMP) and the newly added areas?
Swarna Venkataraman: thanks Utkarsh! It was the residents efforts, else we would have lost it.
Utkarsh Singh: Hi Nitin, RWA's and other civic bodies should watch out for such land allocations
Swarna Venkataraman: For now @nitin
Comment From Shikha:
Good evening panelists. Would you say that the city has enough public, open spaces for outdoor activities? Or has their number shrank drastically over the years?
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Guest -- Commercial establishments in residential area is the subject of another entire discussion !! Not appropriate to this subject !
Will engage on that separately (and have done so too !)
Swarna Venkataraman:
The key learning for us is that we have to protect what little we have.
Champaka Rajagopal: Nitin-- I hope it is...
Swarna Venkataraman: @Shika, it of course has drastically reduced.
Utkarsh Singh:
@Shikha - the number is continuously shrinking
Comment From Guest
Can we get a commitment from our Urban Development MInister to increase open spance in Bangalore?
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala:
Main problem is not UDD. When the next CDP is made (and around the corner), will Resident groups engage in the process and make sure they fight to preserve what little remains ?
@shikha -- No woefully inadequate. Totally. We ideally need around 15 to 20 % lung space. Where is it ?
Comment From Kaddi Ramesha
It may not be too late for planned areas like HSR or Indiranagar. What about unplanned areas such as Chikpete or Sultanpalya or KG Halli? I stay in Sultanpalya, and my children play on the streets of deadend roads rather than playground.
Swarna Venkataraman:
it stands at a mere 2% in the majority of the wards and about 1% in 30 of the 198 wards
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Utkarsh : Not if we are vigilant. We are fighting one more case here in Koramangala 3rd Block to protect a CA site sold by the BDA to the son of its former Chairman -- 1 ACre for 1.7 lacs. (Not a typo !!)
Utkarsh Singh:
@Umesh - Outskirts have a better opportunity to convert existing government land in to public spaces. But the time to start and act on it is right now.
Comment From Arvind
Are all playgrounds GPS tagged on maps? Is there any custom map where I can see them all?
Utkarsh Singh::
It's a good idea to create a custom map for public spaces
Champaka Rajagopal:
Shikha: There are planning standards mandating minimum open space infrastructure at the City and Ward levels. We are certainly much lower than the desirable for achieving good quality of life.
Swarna Venkataraman:@kaddi, yes it is quite a story in the newly developed layouts.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala @Kaddi Ramesha . Yes, very difficult in densely built up core areas of city.
@Arvind. Yes there is a list of playgrounds appearing as an Annexure to Parks Playgrounds and open spaces Preservation Act
Comment From Shlok: Apart from stadiums planned to be constructed on existing playgrounds, what are the other perceived threats to play spaces in the city? Could you cite some examples?
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Shlok -- Water bodies are disappearing and construction is happening on dried up lake beds. We have fought hard to stop 2 developers building on the Bellandur wetlands and won a path breaking judgement at the NGT recently widely reported in the press
Utkarsh Singh: Debris dumping, encroachment, un-hygienic conditions
Swarna Venkataraman:: @kaddi and @arvind look up the list. If any in your area and it is encroached upon, then only a resident led movement will salvage it.
@Sholk converting them into parks!
Champaka Rajagopal:: @Kaddi Ramesha: For areas such as Chikkapete and existing urbanised areas, the only way to increase open space amenity is through a process of planned urban renewal. This becomes extremely challenging given the number of inhabitants and shops and establishments whose consensus would be essential for civic authorities to initiate any such project.
Utkarsh Singh: Very difficult to think of this becoming real, given the land prices there
Swarna Venkataraman:: @Nitin!! Congratulations on that!!
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala:
The problem here is with the agencies responsible being heavily compromised it is a constant running battle where we will have to keep running to stay in the same place let alone improve !
Comment From Guest
will Hon'ble Minister George commit to increasing lung space in our city by year end? will this newspaper support a campaign to convert the Indiranagar BDA complex into another Lalbagh instead of a concrete jungle that is being planned? citizens of Bangalore must be fare more proactive in saving our city. mere "sitting room" conversations are of no use.
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Shlok, construction debris, bbmp garbage trucks and garbage piles, non-maintenance and there by falling into the hands of anti-social elements are all threats
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Swarna Thanks !
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Guest -- problem is that citizens themselves are confused on the way forward. We have a huge controversy about whether to convert open space to parking lots right here in Koramangala ! I for one am totally opposed ! But others keep pushing back. Its a constant struggle
Champaka Rajagopal:
Shlok: Other threats is of encroachment...However, these could be due to a variety of reasons such as lack of available affordable public housing...
Comment From Ashwin
What can residents to to protect open spaces in their neighbourhoods?
Utkarsh Singh:
Ashwin, engage with the authorities to ensure correct land records for public space... Committed to stay that way
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Champaka -- Most encroachment has nothing to do with affordable public housing. It is due to land sharks grabbing land aided and abetted by political class
Utkarsh Singh : The 1,600 acres of Urban Forests in East #BLR we are trying to protect
Swarna Venkataraman: @guest, Indiranagar residents are very very keen to keep their open spaces and would definitely welcome new ones too. However, pls understand this has to be done under the gambit of the prevailing law, So, if the BDA complex can be lawfully converted into an open space, why not,
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala And all too often hutment dwellers are used as pawns by these guys to cover up their sins. For example there is a lake called Mestripalya which the local community is working to revive. There are squatters on lake land who were being paid by a developer to squat there
Swarna Venkataraman: @Ashwin, start from getting to know your open spaces - as against the bbmp's list. Then keep an eye open for any activity that is not in accordance with the permissible usage. If any, report it to bbmp, round up residents, protest, take media help and brign the issue to the forefront.
The Hindu: good advice, Swarna :)
Utkarsh Singh @Nitin : Squatters are usually paid by seasoned encroachers. Dinnur village within Kadugodi Forest is a classic example.
Swarna Venkataraman:If nothing works, take the legal route
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala @Guest -- as Swarna says -- sure. But if BDA Complex is converted into open space, then where will the facilities already there go ?: For instance, Koramangala BDA Complex has RTO, Sub Registrar office, Railway booking office, Bescom office etc etc. Where will they go ?
Comment From Rajanna Open spaces should mean playgrounds too. I remember some 10-15 years sago, BBMP went on a spree creating parks in small empty plots. Why not allow playgrounds to remain for children? Why should every tree planting drive happen on playgrounds. Also, many playgrounds have become parking lots and garbage dumps. Who is going to remove them???
Utkarsh Singh:
@Rajanna : Good point. No one but the immediate neighbourhood residents can protect and reclaim public spaces as needed by the community
Swarna Venkataraman:
@True Rajanna!
Comment From Dr Anil : Which media will support us
Utkarsh Singh: Social Media is always there
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala @Rajanna -- Of course Open spaces also includes Playgrounds. Very important. Problem is many senior citizens have forgotten their childhood. We hear lots of complaints about noise in playgrounds (remember the glory days everybody !!)
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala @Dr Anil -- Media will always support you in good causes. But primary responsibility rests with individuals and RWAs. They need to fight and fight to the very end. Otherwise the system will win
Swarna Venkataraman: @Dr.Anil, We are in a chat room facilitated by The Hindu. All mainline newspapers and TV chanels do support, if the issue is of significae to its viewers and readers. And of course Social Media!
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Dr Anil -- if there is a serious issue- agitate. Bring people together. Highlight the issue. Organize a public protest (after getting permissions of course !!)
Champaka Rajagopal:
@Rajanna, the proposed land use maps of the BDA's master plan makes reservation of land for open spaces; however, permissible within this category is parks and gardens and playgrounds alike. The requirement for one or another must be based on local area's and citizens/ inhabitants's needs.
Comment From Dr Anil
Vasanthpura ward Bangalore.We are fighting to develop a sanitary water filled lakemail erthswhile known as Vasanthpura Lake..
Utkarsh Singh
Important is for each neighbourhood to get as many citizens as possible engaged in RWA's / Civic Groups. If not weekly, meet once a month at least. Let minutes be shared on a whatsapp group.
Comment From Rajanna
MR. Nitin Seshadri. I am senior citizen myself. When i was working, my children used to spend their holidays playing in the empty plots of our colony in Mathikere. My grandchildren have no space to play. There is the JP Narayan park, but it is more for senior citizens like me who like to walk around and meet at benches.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Dr Anil -- I know . Cleaning up lakes contaminated by sewage is a herculean task. Good news is some communities have fought and won !
Comment From Dr Anil
Dear NITISH have got the residents together..stopped sewage from getting in the lake..
Utkarsh Singh:
Please get in touch with LDA (Lake Development Authority), they are now top in hierarchy in lake related decisions and led by very good bureaucrats
Comment From Patralekha
Do we have a scope of creating new playgrounds, given that there are clearly not enough? The focus appears to be on creation of parks instead of playgrounds...
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Dr.Anil, all the very best on your efforts!! KEep at it and you will see the results! Thank you for doing this for us!
Comment From Dr Anil
Now how do we get BDA to use this as a public space..
Utkarsh Singh:
You don't need BDA always. Check ownership on Bhoomi website. BDA is the least efficient / bothered entity. LDA and BBMP are better. You can also use local corporator and good bureaucrats influence to move the lake ownership away from BDA. LDA is most responsible.
Utkarsh Singh
@ Dr. Anil : Please get in touch with LDA (Lake Development Authority), they are now top in hierarchy in lake related decisions and led by very good bureaucrats
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Sanaya, you dont have to pay to use a public playground. IT is against the law! But you will have to confirm whose land it is. Chk it against the parks and playgrounds list in the BBMP website.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Dr Anil -- Fabulous work. Is it a BDA or BBMP lake ? You need to get funds from BDA to develop it into a usable area. Why not meet new BDA Commr Khatri or Mr Nayak the Engineer Member. Mr Nayak will be receptive to ideas. Also try to meet your local MLA to push for funding
The Hindu
Here is the BBMP list of playgrounds: http://bbmp.gov.in/playgrounds
Champaka Rajagopal:
@Patralekha: you would have to fight for a citizen's decision as the regulations do not segregate a park and a playground.
Utkarsh Singh
You don't need BDA always. Check ownership on Bhoomi website. BDA is the least efficient / bothered entity. LDA and BBMP are better. You can also use local corporator and good bureaucrats influence to move the lake ownership away from BDA. LDA is most responsible.
Comment From umesh
I have heard that the BDA RMP 2035 has big plans for cubbon park-lalbagh like parks in the outskirts of the city in the newer zones. Is it true?
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala:
@Umesh -- what is in CDP 2031 is a deep and dark secret known to only a few in Govt and probably a few real estate guys ! If you know what is in it -- then you are in a very small short list
Comment From Dr Anil
It is a BDA lake
Comment From Arvind
Why are there 2 bodies: BDA and BBMP?
Utkarsh Singh:
Long story, like why Pakistan and Bangladesh. Eventually boils down to power struggle.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Dr Anil -- BDA lake can be transferred to BBMP too if need be.
@Arvind -- Good question -- BDA especially has no particular reason to continue existing !!
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Arvind https://www.commonfloor.com...
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Arvind and now we are going to have BBMP further divided!
Champaka Rajagopal:
Arvind: The BDA 's role is dichotomous- they function as developers and also plan for the city's future spatial development through the master plans.
Comment From Meenakshi
Lack of open spaces. more floods. Construction companies make use of open spaces for their benefit. What can be done?
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Swarna -- that is of course yet another topic for debate. BBMP divided will certainly be better but then that;s open for debate on another forum
Comment From Ramanth
Open Spaces have many meanings. Parks, playgrounds and even squares and public meeting points. There seems to be no effort to create the latter two. the best place for creation of public squares would be in front of Vidhan Soudha and High Court. But, it is full of parked cars, vendors and more importantly compound walls. Because of these walls everywhere, even for public buildings, there seems to be no breathing space in Bangalore while walking.
Utkarsh Singh
@Meenakshi : Be aware of ownership of open spaces. Push for conversion to park, playground etc.
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Nitin, True!
Utkarsh Singh
Very true Ramanth. There are zero public spaces in #BLR.
Comment From Dr Anil
Have been trying to get an appointment with BDA commissioner...but not yet successful
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
On a broader note, please see how densely populated cities abroad have preserved public and open spaces -- look at New York or at Paris for example. Best practices need to be emulated
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Menakshi, beign a vigilant, informed citizen really goes a long way inc hecking such issues.
Comment From Arvind
Heard the spaces below fyovers are being converted into public spaces. Will they be air conditioned? #pollution :)
Utkarsh Singh:
If they can be hygienic and green, that should be good enough. Don't think they can be used by citizens.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Dr Anil. Nayak.EM BDA 98456-30123. For Commissioner please go Wednesday evening after 3.30 give your card and wait. You can meet him. But pl meet Nayak first
Utkarsh Singh
@Nitin : Political will needed before we lose more opportunity. If not, enough public pressure for a CDP that is not focussed on creating land banks and high values for vested interests.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Arvind -- Ha ! But seriously if you need to see space under flyover, see Mumbai recent example or Chennai. used very well. Here it is ridiculous. That is the biggest advantage of flyovers -- use the space !!
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Utkarsh -- Koramangala residents fought and won a case on RMP 2015 with regard to commercialization. We will probably have a foot in the door with regard to CDP 2031 -- I don;t think Govt has the appetite for a full scale fight so I think they will listen to what a few of us have to say
Champaka Rajagopal:
@Ramnath: Public spaces need to be designed... there is little awareness about urban design in our city. Design through consensus of local inhabitants will help. Also, liveable cities adopt paid on street parking policy. This is a must for a better future for neighbourhoods. We must demand for planned public spaces- streets , plazas, playgrounds etc...
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Arvind -- Space under flyovers can be used for parking, for LMV U Turns, for DWCC (like in Silk Board flyover ) etc
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Champaka -- Awareness exists. But when land use change colour pencils are auctioned in the crores and developers get to change the city at will, what to do
Comment From Dr Anil
One of professors in IIM B had a unique idea of stopping new infrastructure like roads flyovers...as it will help public spaces develop itself..
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: Political interference is an issue. The school I talked about for instance is being backed by a leading Ruling party politician
Champaka Rajagopal: @Nitin: The need for awareness is for the public authorities to begin with! I also think the awareness is highly inadequate...
Swarna Venkataraman: @Nitin yes that is a long tough battle. But the fight must go on... and most importantly the steam should not be lost.
Utkarsh Singh: We need more transparent, online records.
Champaka Rajagopal:: @Nitin: I also think the awareness is highly inadequate...amongst the other stakeholders
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala
@Champaka -- As soon as Draft CDP is out, we will start engaging with other RWAs in city. Yes, Awareness is still inadequate. Sometimes however it is there but authorities look the other way
Comment From Manjunath
I agree with Ramanath. One of the reaons bangalore feels so congested is the compound walls everywhere. Cubbon Road comes on my commute route. There are parks there, but the army has put up compound walls. In front of BBMP also there are compound walls. When you walk on pavements, you get only the sight and stench of walls. Why can't government buildings at least open up their space. Why should parks also have big compound walls?
Swarna Venkataraman:
@Manjunath, i would think that is because we are not responsible users of our public spaces.
Utkarsh Singh
@Manjunath : Valid point. But in our country, even trash bins get stolen. In railway toilets, there is a chain that holds a metal mug. Open culture with no walls is a utopian dream as of now.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Manjunath -- no walls means immediate encroachment, Or public urination. Or worse. What do people do ? We are like this only !
Swarna Venkataraman: @MAnjunath, the playgroudn that we are fighting to save has a few gaps in it's perimeter walls. We see it being used as a public urinal, a ganja party joint, an after-party joint.. The main gate was broke open by Driving school cars!!!
Nitin Seshadri: @Manjunath @Utkarsh: To give another example, plastic buckets given for segregation of waste routinely stolen in low income areas
Comment From Tapika: There were plans to convert landfills to parks, including Mandur. Anyone knows if plantation in these areas have started yet or is it still being used as a landfill?
Nitin: @Manjunath -- We locked our playground gate and restricted entry only via turnstyles -- reason is driving school practice, illegal activities like drag racing etc !
Swarna Venkataraman: @Manjnath, so we're now working on getting security inside that ground.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Tapika -- I think that waste mining is still a huge project that needs to be done before we can get to a park.
Utkarsh Singh:
@Tapika -- Mandur landfill is now stagnant and receiving no more garbage. We have planted 2000 trees next to it this monsoon. Including a 1000 yesterday with school children. We are trying to find an expert who can help reduce the toxicity levels of the soil due to un-segregated waste dumping. Connect on Twitter at @SaveWhitefield for more on this.
Swarna Venkataraman:@Utkarsh Awesome work and kudos to the children!!
Nitin Seshadri: Another serious issue -- poor maintenance of existing public spaces. Have seen some looking really bad
Utkarsh Singh: Thank you Swarna! Would like to connect with you offline for helping out in Indiranagar.
Swarna Venkataraman: Thanks Utkarsh, would be good. Also, pls do follow I Change Indiranagar.
Comment From Bangalorean: What is the way out now? Someone had said urban renewal, but that is very difficult and unlikely in bangalore. We cAnnot just demolish everything and rebuild again. housing is also a crisis here, and we cannot just evict the slums and make parks there without a proper rehabilitation effort.
Champaka Rajagopal:
Urban renewal is an almost impossible task. Pooling of land for public purpose, based on Gujarat's Town Planning Scheme is promising. However, this requires to be contextualised for different states and cities, to fit what is workable.
Comment From Tapika
Utkarsh Singh, that is great work. 2,000 trees is a lot.
Utkarsh Singh: Its just the beginning, we are planning 100,000 trees next monsoon. Important is to ensure 98% survival, and not just planting trees. For the first 2000, we signed 5 year maintenance contract through CSR funding.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: One more serious issue -- there is a linkage between rates of disease and disappearing public spaces. Has linkages to rise of atmospheric pollution which leads to increased cardiac disease and rise in cancer rates. Killing each of us slowly every day
Comment From Tapika: What is waste mining? Every thing has to be removed, or do they dump mud on the waste and just plant over it?
Utkarsh : There is an expert in Maharashtra who has developed an indigenuous technique to help with this. We are trying to get him interested in working on the Mandur Landfill.
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Tapika -- Many techniques and there are expert firms that do only this
Utkarsh : @SaveWhitefield The way forward of course is to reduce the need of landfills
Dr. Anil: We would like to plant some 300 trees..please guide us
Utkarsh : @SaveWhitefield: Please connect offline, we'll do our best
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Utkarsh -- of course. But landfills will be with us for the near future ! And there are ways to manage landfills efficiently - but GoK does not want to hear of this !
Utkarsh : Yes Nitin, we need a new GoK :)
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: @Utkarsh -- Unfortunately we get a new GoK every 5 years (sometimes even sooner). Seldom seems to help though !!
The Hindu: Thank you Utkarsh, Nitin, Swarna and Champaka for your insightful views and for interacting with our readers. We'll be closing the chat now.
Utkarsh : With not much time left, I'd like to add - Democracy 2.0 will run through social and digital media. Democracy is not about ink on our fingers once in 5 years. We need to stay engaged regularly. Thank you @TheHindu
Nitin Seshadri Koramangala: Thanks everyone. It was a pleasure to participate !
Champaka Rajagopal: Thank you everyone
The Hindu: That's a good thought Utkarsh. Thank you every one once again.
