Resident groups that have been fighting the unbridled commercialisation of their neighbourhoods remain discouraged as there seems to be very little action taken on the ground, despite a recent High Court order on the issue and the “right noises” made by the civic body.
Over two months after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued a public notice to commercial establishments in residential areas, barely have any shut shop.
Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, Health, said that to date the civic body has issued notice to around 2,500 establishments. However, it is business as usual for a majority of these establishments. Mr. Khan said that in due course, the civic body would follow to shut them down.
But the civic body does not know exactly how many businesses have cropped up in recent years in residential neighbourhoods. Officials don’t have any data on the number of establishments violating zonal regulations and is yet to initiate a city-wide survey.
Petition to the CM
Frustrated at the inaction, the Bengaluru Residents’ Associations’ Confederation Ensemble (BRACE), a federation of several residents’ welfare associations (RWA), has now started a change.org petition appealing to the Chief Minister to take immediate action against commercial establishments.
Recently a delegation of eight RWAs from Indiranagar, who are at the forefront of the fight, also met Yateesh, Joint Commissioner, East, demanding immediate action against over 600 commercial establishments in their area.
Residents fear that the civic body has postponed action against commercial establishments citing BBMP council resolution to form a committee to look into the issue. However, no such committee has been formed till date.
Mr. Khan said that action against commercial establishments was borne out of a High Court order of 2014 and couldn’t be stalled. “The committee will give its recommendations even as we continue with our proceedings to issue notices, get responses and shut down commercial establishments,” he said. Mr. Yateesh has also assured residents of Indiranagar that he would initiate a special drive to shut down commercial establishments in East Zone in March first week.
But until they see some action, residents continue to remain sceptical.
