Face-off between BBMP, Sankey Road residents

Over 1,000 residents of all ages form a human chain to protest civic body's decision to chop down 170 trees and demolish a 100-yr-old playground in the name of progress and development

Face-off between BBMP, Sankey Road residents

Over 1,000 residents of all ages form a human chain to protest civic body's decision to chop down 170 trees and demolish a 100-yr-old playground in the name of progress and development
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Just when the duel between residents of Sankey Road area and the BBMP over the road widening and tree-felling issue appeared to have faded in the background, the palike has returned with vengeance. About 170 trees have been marked, which will be brought down once the stay order is vacated. Also, the palike has plans to demolish a 100-year-old playground as a part of the road-widening project.

Green warriors: Irked residents gathered to protest the palike's plans
to demolish a 100-year-old playground for the road-widening
project in the area. Pic/Satish Badiger

Residents of the area are now preparing to stop the corporation from doing away with the only playground in the Sankey Tank area, which has not been affected by commercialism. Over 1,000 residents of varying ages gathered at the playground early yesterday morning and formed a human chain to protest rampant destruction in the name of development.

"The ground is triangular and the trees are around the periphery. BBMP has marked 70 trees on one side and over 100 trees on the other to be brought down. Around 7-12 meters of the ground will be claimed for road widening too," said S Uma, a resident. As a part of the third phase of the Sankey Road widening drive, the BBMP has marked this playground, which is enroute to the Mariamma Circle.

"The Malleshwaram playground has already shrunk since portions were given to BWSSB, the CET cell and to an educational institution. This is the only lung space left in our area where many sports clubs practice, residents take walks and various activity groups gather.u00a0Besides, it is the only place where children can be taught to live a healthy outdoor life," said Prasahanth Kalkunte, a local resident.

He added that the ground used to be a regular haunt for cricketers like Venkatesh Prasad, G R Viswanath, Brijesh Patel, Robin Uttappa and B Akhil amongst many others.

Lawful pursuit
Continuing on the legal path taken up, the residents now await their fate, which will be decided on Wednesday.
"We are going to fight this out in our next hearing for the PIL on Wednesday. We hope our pleas will be heard fairly," said Dr Meenakshi Bharat, activist leading the initiative. Meanwhile, BBMP officials remained adamant on their stance and said that the road widening would go on as per schedule.

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