The New Indian Express 09.12.2010
Road widening works to eat into burial grounds
The visit was considerably smooth when compared to the previous visit by the Mayor, which saw hundreds of protesters chanting slogans against the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and also allegedly threatened the media present there.
Though there were a handful of protesters chanting slogans against the BBMP, the committee chairman said that all religious groups in the area were for road-widening.
'BBMP should buy the TDR'Speaking about the owners who lost their lands, Ravindra said the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) would be bought by the Palike itself.
Local MLA Zameer Ahmed said protests were held by the those who were losing land in the project as their livelihood depended on the same.
Ravindra said local religious leaders had given their consent on parting with 176 metres of the Muslim burial ground and added that the project will also take away about 8,000 sq feet from the Christian burial ground.
He stated that the BBMP would ensure that no structure in the Muslim burial ground would be demolished and also said that they would sanction 4,500 square feet of BBMP land at a nearby location.
The Christian community there, will now try get approval from the Archbishop to further the proposal by the BBMP. Nearly, 240 homes and shops will be demolished for the purpose.
