Reclaim Bengaluru.. but how?

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We doth protest too much. This is more of a "Frog in Boiling water" story. The tree felling has been happening since 1980's when some of the first major roads of Bangalore were built. Protests were not seen then. The impact of this would be seen after 20 years.... The lukewarm water then is now at a boiling point & all the frogs (especially the next generation) want a radical change! (No offense meant to anyone)

It is the same politicians running the show now, that were there before. They have been in this business for many decades. It is the consequence of their choices and decisions then, that we live with today.

When numerous BDA layouts, private layouts, electronic city road, hosur road, bannerghatta road, Sarjapur road, West of cord road, Yeshwanthpur flyover, Hebbal fly over, inner & outer ring roads, peripheral roads, etc etc roads were being formed & constructed, thousands of century old trees saw the axe. We ate into the hillock around our valley city. We ate into the elephant corridor & national park.

The major damage was done. If the government or the people had then taken responsibility of simultaneously replenishing for green cover: "for every tree cut, may two sapling be planted;" we wouldn't have landed into this trouble now.

If the lakes were not converted into layouts, we would not be in this trouble now.
Most of us were mere kids in the cradle then. So should we go back to our parents and ask them why they did not take the corrective steps?

Our lakes are encroached, and we can't even take them back.

Our lakes & water sources are polluted, & we can't even clean them. But we have enough patience to suffer water shortage & deplete existing water source by digging more bore wells. Are we laying a foundation of problems for our future generations?

We are building new roads yes. Is this to resolve the immediate problem & traffic situation. Are we building new roads keeping a future situation ahead of years in mind?

Are new layouts really required? Why is the area around new airport being developed into plots and sold away? All the forest land is gone to the greed of real estate? Do we really need 5 plots, and apartments in every corner of the city? This is also for the people (s/w engineers from other parts iof the country) who have bought two three four apartments only to rent out. Each house has multiple vehicles. Wife drives a car and a husband drives another. There are at least 2 scooters per home. Other than replenishing our homes, we cannot think of anything constructive.

We are people with more money than we need and do not know what to do. Small minds small pictures. Big minds big pictures. What we are good at is making an issue about dividing the country into smaller pieces and driving people out of the states they are not born to. Owning up to responsibility comes to very few people. We are just another contributing factor to Global warming.

No Lakes -> No water storage -> No water
No Trees -> No shade -> No oxygen -> high temperature -> Bad weather -> Bad health -> Asthma, Dust Allergy,
No open space -> helpless children -> helpless old people
More people -> More money -> more homes -> more requirements ->
More vehicles -> more airplanes -> more trash -> more pollution -> More accidents -> More crime


How many of us join protest marches? how many of us join the sapling planting programs that very few NGO's are involved in, how many of us want to get involved directly in lake cleaning activities?

Yes, roads are required! With better planning, moving the clock backwards and with in next 10 years replenishing the green cover, reclaiming & cleaning lakes, have better roads, underground metro & we can resolve most of our issues.
It definitely is ACTION time to RECLAIM BANGALORE! Time to be stubborn & influence the government to change the rules of the game. It requires many gallons of cool water, to reduce the temperature of boiling water to save the frogs. Work will get done only we show up and soil our hands.

But we, the frogs, are playing the games with same stakes. Our next generation frogs will take the brunt of our choices and lifestyles and want yet another radical change. But then the time cannot be turned back. Superficially, we are saying all the right words & acting the wrong way.


Roopa Sreedhar
9886162404

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