Bangalore:
The residents have joined hands to protect one of the oldest localities in the city -- Malleswaram. These citizens, along with Jagrutha Nagarikara Sanghatane, have taken up the initiative to stop the authorities from permitting shopping malls and apartments as it was causing traffic and other civic problems.
"Malleswaram is one of the oldest residential localities in the city. It was considered safe for senior citizens. But with the government giving permission to huge apartment complexes, massive residential enclaves, large malls, and restaurants at every corner of the road, the place has become chaotic," said V Gnana Murthy, convener, Jagrutha Nagarikha Sanghatane.
He said that large number of people from all parts of the city come to these malls.
"Due to narrow roads, vehicles are parked on the roadsides. The situation is worse during weekends. The smoke and noise pollution is further increasing our misery," said Murthy.
The worst part is most residents are forced to park their vehicles at Sheshadripuram as people visiting the malls park on both the sides of the roads in residential areas. The residents are able to drive their cars to the garage only after 11 pm. This is the condition of the residents who once lived peacefully," said G Hanumesh, a resident.
The residents blame the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for the chaos prevailing in Malleswaram. According to them, the Palike has sanctioned multi-storeyed buildings without any check.
"A metro station will also come up in the area and this will further add to the problem. The Palike has given permission to a 56-storey apartment complex and a 36-storey commercial complex here. If these buildings are constructed, then the residents have to shift to some other place," said S Shobha, member, Sangathane.
"With the apartment digging up more borewells than permitted, the ground water level has dried up in recent days. It will also create sever water problem in the area, if the government gives more permission to the apartments," said Shobha.
She said that many people have moved out of Malleswaram after malls started coming up in the locality. "My friend Bharathi, who is the principal in Ammamani College, shifted her resident from 2nd Cross, where an apartment complex has come up, to 10th Cross. Similarly, lot of other people have moved out of the area due to traffic and pollution," she said.
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