One more month to file objections to RMP-2031

Activists say it will be a futile exercise as BDA is yet to respond to queries on the draft

The State government has directed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to open the Proposed Revised Master Plan – 2031 for objections for another month ‘on public demand’. In an order issued on March 20, the government has asked BDA to notify the dates for the new one-month period.

The government may have cited public demand to reopen the window, but those who have been following this issue closely alleged that the move is aimed at avoiding a lengthy legal battle in the Karnataka High Court.

The order comes in the wake of a writ petition in the High Court by Citizen Action Forum (CAF) seeking several clarifications from the BDA on the proposed RMP – 2031, apart from seeking time to file objections after the authority replies to its questions.

“The proposed RMP-2031 has little clarity on many issues and, in some cases, faulty data. Our demand before the High Court has been that a 60-day window be opened for filing objections to the draft plan post clarifications. Opening a window for objections without any clarifications being published defeats the whole purpose,” said Mahalakshmi Parthasarathy, Secretary, CAF.

The CAF has sought clarity on the land use tables, which don’t add up. Some proposals, especially zoning regulations, are also open to multiple interpretations. “In such a scenario, the only objections that can be filed is how the data is faulty. The BDA needs to clarify these issues, only after which we can go into its merits and demerits,” said N.S. Mukunda, a senior CAF activist.

Committee to look into objections

The State government has formed a committee, led by former chief secretary and chairman BBMP Restructuring Committee B.S. Patil, to scrutinise all the objections to the proposed RMP – 2031.

Other members of the committee are retired bureaucrat and former BBMP and BDA commissioner Siddaiah, urban expert R.K. Mishra, apart from the BDA commissioner, Planning Member of BDA Board and the Director of Town Planning Karnataka as ex-officio members.

Mahalakshmi Parthasarathy, Sceretary, Citizen Action Forum has demanded that the BDA first publish all the objections the plan has received. “Only then will we be able to hold the committee accountable. The Thomas Committee Report during the RMP – 2015 had recommended each objection must be accounted for. That is possible only if the objections and the comments by the scrutiny committee are made public,” she argued.

This is also one of the directions sought from the High Court.