top of page

Our Recent Posts

Archive

Tags

Search

#HeritageBeku writes to Chief Secretary to help restore (not raze) heritage Victoria Hospital


12 December 2019 Mr Vijay Bhaskar Chief Secretary Govt of Karnataka Vidhana Soudha Bangalore 560001 Dear Mr Vijay Bhaskar: Subject: Planned partial demolition of Victoria Hospital surgical wards In our meeting last month, we were grateful for your patient hearing and your complete agreement that city heritage , especially public heritage must be protected while city development goes on in parallel. We had extensively discussed the urgent necessity of heritage guidelines and regulatory framework to ensure that the processes and systems are set in motion . The government is expected to take the lead in enforcing and upholding heritage guidelines, and we look up to you for this. You will agree with me that the unnecessarily confrontational circumstances created as concerned citizens are caught off guard and respond with emotion and outrage, is highly avoidable. The Cubbon Park 7 storey building was a case in point where citizens were very concerned about any construction in a beloved commons and public natural heritage space . We understand that this is maybe on hold now and are grateful for the government re think on this issue. However, press reports today showing the planned demolition of the 1897 Victoria Hospital has caused us much anxiety , as we have had no advance information or idea that this was planned. Surely there are alternatives other than breaking even a part of a 120 year old part of our city and state’s collective history. Already, I understand a few structures were razed down to build the 6 storey OPD building 5 years ago , and sadly in addition, the new structure has no spatial contiguity to the original building, as is required by Heritage Guidelines. We are not clear as to what is planned , and we request you for clarity and details on this urgently. We also appeal to you , to please categorically ensure restoration of the heritage space rather than any demolition to put up an additional building. As the oldest teaching hospital and the city’s largest, the iconic Victoria Hospital certainly is a growing, buzzing centre of healing for 1000s of patients, and we respect that. Additional space and beds must be found to accommodate its growth as a teaching hospital . However we are sure that a via media can be found and Victoria Hospital left in its original state and restored rather than razed. We look forward to your earliest considered and informed response to this citizen request . Thanking you Yours truly Priya Chetty-Rajagopal For Team Heritage Beku Cc: Mr Rajnish Goyal. Secretary Home and PWD 

BBMP Outdoor Signage Policy


Dear Sir: Thank you for a forward thinking & positive framework . Please find enclosed our inputs on the policy . Please acknowledge receipt Thanks .. Best Regards, 

#HeritageBeku  —— Suggestions on BBMP Outdoor Signage & Advt Draft Policy Broad Points

Well written draft policy overall, and good in intent. Ward Committee and Corporator for the said ward should have some jurisdiction over signage , especially in the case of bus shelters or the useless Foot Over Bridges Transparency in Approval Number , Advertiser name, Time period and amount paid on signage A Bangalore Design Trust (a la New York Design Trust) to be set up so broad contours and similar framework is adhered to in ALL outdoor signage in the city . City Heritage & Aesthetics MUST be maintained and Usability /Urban Planning experts folded into design and maintenance of the same . If placed near heritage structures or city monuments etc, the signs should have some spatial contiguity, aesthetics & fit, as decided by the above Bengaluru City Design Trust Where is the Zone D A, B, C , coverage as mentioned in the first press release Areas that are close to govt structures like Vidhana Soudha , Raj Bhavan, High Court and prominent monuments should have NO sponsored advertisement for at least 500 meters radius Aesthetics have not been mentioned specifically as one of the objectives in the policy Similarly safety (and also redressal and insurance) , is not mentioned as an objective in the policy Do Not infringe on pedestrian walkways with poles for signboards Collaborate with other agencies like Police, BWSSB, BESCOM etc so multiple infrastructure is not set up .for eg one pole can be used both for streetlight as well as a direction sign board, or a litter box. This saves valuable pedestrian walk way, encourages better multipurpose design and saves costs Specific focus on advertisers evaluating, and looking out for factors that can cause danger or safety hazards for eg sharp edges, wires and electrical points or hazards. Punishment for breaking rules - there seems to be no fine/jail time for specific coverage for escalation , or redressal of departure from policy Specific Points in Point 2.2.6, add the point of 'aesthetics' to the coverage Point 2.2.5 is not clear In Point 3.11.3 Also Skywalks or Foot Over Bridges should be disallowed unless requested and accepted by local ward committee. Example Esteem Mall was a required one, but the Planetarium skywalk is unused & was bitterly opposed by citizens Point 7.1 'Prohibited sign' listing and coverage should cover those in prominent government , sensitive and heritage areas as well. In Point- 7.2 - what are "Traffic Hazards ' ? Please define In Point 9.5 on Festival Decorations . Why is temporary permitted ? who gives permission? How long is it ? Who manages safety and approvals? Are there any fines if they break rules? Why cant we take an NOC from the Corporator, Engineer & RWAs first and foremost ? In Point 10.2 Joint Commissioner or AC gives permission for signage. They should involve the local Ward Committee as well , so citizens voices maintained In Point 10.5.2 The Review Committee has a strong government bias and not enough citizen participation . Ward Committee or prominent citizen must be in on this committee. . A conservationist or heritage expert must also be involved In Point 10.6 Design Review Committee , the above point of wider inclusive participation must be are included.In addition , the punishment for breaking rules in both committees is not defined.

Links: https://www.deccanherald.com/city/citizens-welcome-new-696578.html http://bbmp.gov.in/documents/10180/11736764/BBMP_OUTDOOR_SIGNAGE.pdf/868fe0bc-7b2b-41be-a803-ebf27394bd64 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/hoardings-wont-clutter-bengaluru-skyline-anymore/articleshow/65586615.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/hoardings-wont-clutter-bengaluru-skyline-anymore/articleshow/65586615.cms http://www.media4growth.com/ooh-news/bbmp-approves-new-ad-policy-bans-hoardings-in-city-311 Http://Bit.ly/ReclaimSky  

#CubbonParkUlisi or The Weight of Public Opinion


Yesterday, Team #HeritageBeku decided an impromptu meetup/.#concerncollective at #CubbonPark. The online #petition change.org/CubbonCourt had just crossed 10000 signatures in 5 days.

Cut to today- a sunny Sunday morning with lots of people in the The Park.. #CubbonParkUlisi Posters are up, some have made & brought their own. there are dancers, skaters, walkers and dogs and the #GoGreencycling group is a riot of a color. Joggers, dog parents walk up to ask questions and interact. The sun is out and the day & people are buzzing.

The powerful ‘#WeightOfPublicOpinion’ was perhaps the overriding theme that underlay ‘#HowGreenWasMyPark meet up at Cubbon Park today. The old fashion weighing scale or #tarazu set up - with #CubbonParkUlisi on one side and #IDontCare on the other- was a powerful visual showcase of public sentiment on a beloved lung space.

#CubbonMemoryProject ..It was great to see small groups of people sharing their memories, heritage stories of the park, clearly anguished at the onslaught of construction. Photos expected soon. Check out #ArundhatiNag’s heart tugging pic with her granddaughter in the Park ; and #SGVasudev with his..

#HeritageExpertise The ploggers, walkers, cyclists, poets, painters all flowed through while Heritage Luminaries who are Cubbon Park experts like Mr Satya prakash Varanashi, Arun Pai, Suresh Moona, Aliyeh Rizvi and Bimal Desai spoke to various small groups about Park history and fascinating snippets as well . An impassioned Bimal Desai harked back to their original #SaveCubbonPark campaign in 1998 and the avoidable tragedy of being back two decades later to rewrite the same story. It was somber to know that this dark history was repeating itself. Naresh V Narasimhan weighed in as did Mr Raghunandan (he also brought his vintage friend Swami - and I’m afraid due to centenarian status , we slightly broke the law to do so 😉) Suresh Moona’s fascinating insights on the Cubbon Park fountain, it’s history & it’s dedication to - parrots- caught our attention. Tune in to more! But the formidable Centenarian Freedom Fighter Shri #Doreswamy at the dais who spoke with such impassioned simplicity, toughened our resolve to always be #guardiansofheritage.

#NextGen The #Parikrma School children in their earth uniforms of bright green, listened to the stories , happily chorused out #CubbonParkUlisi, held us spell bound with their young wisdom and desire to be change makers. We loved their spontaneous rap song written on the fly! You should listen. A cyclist said ‘ I got goosebumps listening to them ’ These kids give us HOPE.

This is the city we know and we helplessly love & as so many of us lingered in the bright sunny Sunday commons, as a part of a larger Bengaluru ethos, the need to sustain it just got some steel. Our Bengaluru is not as strong as we think and she needs us . The discreet bicycle tring-tring & the bird sounds, lazy buzz of bees in the Park took us back in time, reinforcing that feeling .

The #seriousmessage that went out was the need to avoid triggers to such citizen outpourings like this , by having the much overdue #HeritageLaws in place & the necessary #heritageguidelines in the #TownAndCountryPlanning Act. #HeritageBeku & other groups have made this earnest request repeatedly in letters and in the Draft #RMP31response . We don’t know why there is such ominous inaction. This MUST move forward now .

Blog: Blog
bottom of page