Bengaluru is going through its hottest summer! Bengaluru is also going through its worst Water Crisis.  Ground water is depleted not only in Bengaluru, but from all its surrounding areas!  Bengaluru is one of the worst polluted cities in the world. Bengaluru's tree cover has reduced from 70% to less than 3%.

Bengaluru is in the headlines for all the WRONG REASONS!  It has become an example of how development can go WRONG!  It is a symbol of bad governance, bad planning and unsustainable development!  This is a city, clearly on the path of self destruction, due to ill-conceived policies of its Government. 

AND THE DAMAGING INFLUENCE OF BENGALURU IS EXTENDING TO ALL THE TALUKS AND DISTRICTS AROUND IT.

Already, the surrounding areas of Bengaluru are under undue stress due to the demands of Bengaluru's growth, from over-exploitation of water, to destruction of green cover, to Mining for construction purposes.  

The ESZ Buffer zone was a deterrent that kept the Bannerghatta National Park which is the LAST LUNG SPACE OF BENGALURU, relatively safe. 

But the irresponsible State and Central Governments have favoured the interests of the Mining lobby, to reduce the ESZ from 269 SQ KM  to 169 SQ KM.

This will have disastrous consequences on the National Park and Bengaluru.  Wildlife corridors, watershed of rivers, and green cover will be directly affected.  Construction will increase, and pollution will increase.  The National park itself will deteriorate.  Moreover, the last lung space of our city will be destroyed.  

This will be the death knell of Bengaluru.  Bengaluru is already unliveable, and with the loss of the ecosystem around BNP, Bengaluru will become a torture chamber for its residents. 

The citizens of Bengaluru and Karnataka are unhappy with this corrupt and irresponsible decision. We demand the following:

1. We unequivocally demand that the ESZ be reversed to 269 SQ KM.  Nothing less than that will do!  Immediately.   
2. We also demand that a committee be set up to ensure the implementation of ESZ restrictions, immediately!

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Pic Courtesy Deccan Herald.

A report on the collusion of collusion of Govt with Quarry business, in influencing this terrible decision:  https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/reduction-of-bannerghatta-esz-for-whose-benefit-708419.html