Comments/ Thoughts on Cantonment Railway Station Redevelopment

Some thoughts regarding the design for the Cantonment Railway Station Redevelopment.....

- The historical significance of the station and the heritage building are not important components of the redevelopment. The historic significance has not been given the importance it deserves.

- There are many excellent examples of redevelopment projects that have retained some important aspects of the historical structure (like an entrance, façade, portion of a building, roof etc.) along with the redevelopment. Here, no aspect of the heritage structure is retained or incorporated in the redevelopment design

- The context of the station (local context, materials, native landscaping, sustainability etc.) has not been given any consideration

- There is no information on whether public participation was considered for the redevelopment project

- The need to provide modern amenities and facilities is understandable, but it is not clear whether all the proposed amenities and facilities are need based

- It is not clear whether efforts have been made to preserve the existing trees

Removal of 60 roadside trees for widening Storm water Drain at RMV

Via email

25/09/2022

Deputy Conservator of Forests and Tree Officer Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, N.R. Square Annexe Building-3, Bangalore Phone: 9916649023

Email : dcfbbmp12@gmail.com

Dear Sir:

Re: Official Memorandum No. DCF/PR/1095/2022-23 dated 16/09/2022

We refer to the captioned Official Memorandum issued for removal of 60 roadside trees standing near the Radhakrishna Temple, Amarjyothi Layout, RMV 2nd stage, Ward No.18, Bangalore- 560094, for the purpose of widening a storm water drain.

We note a conflict of interest in this case as the trees are sought to be felled by the Assistant Executive Engineer, BBMP and the permission for tree felling is sought from the Deputy Conservator of Forests and Tree Officer, also from the BBMP. Legally it is important that a committee independent of the BBMP looks into the application for tree felling made by the Executive Engineer, BBMP. Therefore, the present Official Memorandum should be withdrawn, and an independent committee be constituted to look into the issue of tree felling for the project in question. It is submitted that there is absolutely no justification for the proposed tree felling, to widen a storm water drain. Trees by themselves serve as excellent ways and means to prevent flooding as they form a catchment area for rainwater and also improve the water table. They are as effective as storm water drains in preventing flooding and stagnation of water. Their action of trapping the rainwater also enriches the soil and helps improve its quality. In fact, by felling trees for widening a storm water drain, the flood situation will become worse as the area will lose valuable greenery which serves as an effective measure to prevent flooding.

In Writ Petition No.7288/2011 (Suo Moto versus Government of Karnataka and others), the High Court of Karnataka has directed that felling of trees be undertaken as an exception rather than a rule and further that the Tree Officer and Tree Authority would have to fully satisfy themselves and certify that all other alternatives have been considered regarding the feasibility of felling of trees, before permitting the felling of even a single tree.

As you are aware, pursuant to the judgment in the Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Dattatreya M Devare and Bangalore Environment Trust, the High Court of Karnataka ordered that the Tree Committee constituted should submit in writing the procedure and criteria for arriving at the number and type of trees to be axed and should issue its Report. Most importantly, whenever there is a proposal for felling of trees, the Expert Committee should examine whether the trees proposed to be felled could be saved by adopting any method and felling of trees should be considered only if it is found that after exhausting all methods, it is found that it is impossible to save any tree.impossible to save any tree.

The High Court has also opined that felling even one single tree could have an adverse impact on the environment, as once a tree is felled, it is permanently lost. In the present case, the criterion of public interest is certainly not fulfilled as felling the trees will lead to further damage to the environment and ecology and will in fact worsen the flood situation. Therefore, it is requested that the tree felling exercise for the purpose of widening the storm water drain be stopped immediately..

Thanking You, Yours Sincerely,

For Team Heritage Beku

Priya Chetty Rajagopal, Prabha Dev and Veena Krishnan

Objections to public notice-SWD-250922

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BDA please rethink this

It was disquieting to read the above news item in Deccan Herald.

Citizens and experts are joined on this view that this should not have been allowed, given its heritage and city value. This historic site includes ancient monuments, a waterbody and a rock formation covering 20 acres.

Here are some points

1. The byelaws prevent any building on lake buffers. There are specific requirements for preserving the buffers as green and open areas. Allowed uses are very specific.

2. The ancient rock is of heritage value and must be preserved.

3. The lake must be cleaned up and must be rejuvenated.

4. Citizens oppose the decision and their opposition cannot be ignored.

5. In addition, the lake buffers are of historic value as they were former “thopus”.

6. Lakes, lake buffers, ancient rocks are public properties and must be classified accordingly.

7. Leasing of public properties is generally strictly prohibited

8. Public land has to be used for public purposes

Based on the above , the allotment of this land must be stopped immediately. We request that the BDA start the process of retrieving this Gomala land and also ensure that the precious GTS pointers and heritage units are carefully protected.

(inputs from city planners and architects)

Deccan Herald article excerpts :

About 2.75 acres of land in northern Bengaluru that holds historical, scientific and geological significance has been secretly leased to an educational trust for 30 years by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

Part of Survey Number 37, the 11,128-square metre (2.75-acre) property is located in Sampigehalli near Jakkur next to Arkavathi Layout.

Worth at least Rs 100 crore, it has ancient monuments, a waterbody and a rock formation, which conservationists and local residents say can be redeveloped as a tourist spot.

The BDA issued the ‘Civic Amenity Site Possession Certificate’ to Siddeswara Education Trust for the purpose of ‘education’ as recently as May 27 this year. The lease agreement formalities have been completed. 

The rock formation is so large that it covers survey numbers 37 and 87, which total nearly 20 acres. The 2014 Records of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) show the property as a gomala land. 

What is also of interest is that the tower of the Great Trigonometric Survey (GTS), one of the most significant scientific endeavours ever undertaken in the world, is located right in the middle of survey number 37. 

The tower was used as the centre point for the survey that was started by Lt Col Lambton in 1800 and lasted 137 years. Bengaluru’s GTS points, which also include Hennur-Bagalur and Mehkri Circle, had played a critical role in the mapping of India and determining its shape. 

Chokkanahalli Sampigehalli Development Forum, a collective of local residents and historians, fear the BDA’s agreement with different agencies will pose a threat to the ancient monuments and the rock formation.

Some residents had to rush back from their office on Tuesday after earthmovers arrived at the spot to level the property. 

Venkateshwara Lake, which adjoins the GTS Tower, has been left to die as it comes under five different survey numbers. Much of the lake has been filled with solid waste, construction debris and sand. The entire place is strewn with litter. 

Area residents want the BDA to immediately fence the area to stop encroachments. “The property has an ancient monument and needs to be protected. The BDA could develop it as a scientific tourist spot as it can attract tourists from across the globe. The GTS Tower is also a pride of Bengalureans,” said a resident on the condition of anonymity. 

BDA Chairman S R Vishwanath said he would review the allotment at a meeting on Wednesday. “The bande (rock) cannot be given to any institution on lease. It has to be used for public purposes. However, the site was allotted long ago. There is a possibility to stop the allotment by providing alternative land. We will consider that,” he said.