The issue of commercial establishments operating illegally in residential areas was raised in the last BBMP council meeting. Many crocodile tears were shed and it was argued that exceptions should be made and illegalities forgotten as many would lose their livelihood if these establishments are closed.
But the question is whether Bengaluru wants to live by the rule of the law or be deliriously happy at the constant breaking of rules in the knowledge that the law breakers will get away with it.
So what exactly is the law that the Federation of RWAs is asking to be implemented? The Revised Master Plan, 2015 for the city gave commercial establishments the right to exist in and around residential areas but within certain norms. Commercial activities were permitted in up to 20 per cent of a building on 40ft wide roads and certain kinds of commercial units were permitted in the entire building on 60 ft. wide roads.
But the flouting of these generous provisions has forced citizens to go to court, which appreciated the issue and brought in a more stringent set of rules to protect their neighbourhoods. But even this court order has been disregarded and illegal commercialisation of residential areas continues.
Its pertinent to ask why the BBMP council and our elected corporators are so quick to protect the interests of some establishments and not that of lakhs of law abiding citizens, who only want the rule of the law to be implemented and a peaceful life. I don’t need to elaborate the hardships that people in residential areas suffer owing to the traffic, parking issues and noise pollution as a result of these commercial units in their midst. Also, worry about the safety of children and senior citizens and a possible deterioration in the law and order situation increases when a neighbourhood that is supposed to be residential starts to become commercial.
Today there are restaurants, pubs, bars, huge office complexes, software companies, and even small factories in residential areas and many of them do not even have valid trade licenses. Do our elected representatives and law enforcers expect the people to quietly take this abuse? Or do they expect them to move out? If so, to where? The commerical establishments, on the other hand, could easily shift just a kilometre or so away, leaving them in peace.
So instead of raising an unnecessary emotional and quasi political din, all we are asking our elected representatives to do is to do the job they have been elected for and follow the existing law. The saddest part of this saga is that not even a clear court direction and the threat of being in contempt of it deters this very special class of privileged individuals from violating rules in place. It’s time they saw the writing on the wall as law abiding citizens of this great city are saying this much and no more!
The writer is member of Citizen's Action Forum.
