JP Nagar playground scores one against Indira Canteen

BENGALURU: Hours of protest by residents of RBI Layout, JP Nagar, seem to be paying off. They have been trying to retain their playground and keep out a proposed Indira Canteen, and their corporator Sashirekha Jayaram says she has suggested an alternative site.

Shashirekha says, “I have proposed a land in Kothanur for the canteen. The area there is inhabited by those who need the canteen most. Building one in RBI Layout is a poor choice. The residents here are well off and can afford good food,” she says.

Bellur Laxminarayana, a resident in Konankunte Ward, says he is happy that atleast the corporator cares about their sentiments. “The officials didn’t even ask for our consent and they had not informed our corporator. I am glad she has taken an interest,” he says.

Around 60 residents, including senior citizens, women and children had come together to protest BBMP’s proposed plan. The children’s playground they had planned to convert is adjacent to Capitol School, informs Paneendra Kumar. The park is used by children from the age of three and above. “Women come here with their children and it is like a community space,” he says. The playground has swings, slides and other equipment. The school uses the park for LKG and UKG kids too, inform residents.

“We can’t let them encroach our park,” says Laxminarayana. The retired RBI employee informs that the locals are not against pro-poor policies and Indira canteens, but are unwilling to lose their park. “Mostly upper middle class and middle class crowd lives here. These aren’t the people in need of Indira canteen. BBMP should build it in areas where people need it the most,” says RBI Layout RWA president GV Hebbar.

In 1982, RBI employees got together and bought the land to build a residential area, recalls Hebbar. “We built it as per BDA rules, segregating 50% area for public space and ultilities. The park is now under BBMP’s control, but we still look after it and do not want to lose it,” he adds.

Not many layouts in JP Nagar are built as per BDA rules, says Laxminarayana. “Several don’t have enough public space, and hence residents come here for their morning/evening walk and to exercise,” says the 74-year-old, who believes that the canteen is needed in an area where daily wage labourers live.