Dreaming Challaghatta Bagh - big new lung space for Bangalore

It is a blessing in disguise that Bangalore in Deep South was a military head quarters in British days. Bangalore owes a lot to the military land for much needed lung space. It is not a redundancy but a good fortune that India has the luxury of well protected military base in Deep South. During the 1964 war we in Bangalore felt much safer than people near the Border. Mcad, in peace time it is natural for you to feel the redundancy of Military. It is only in war time that you will realize what it takes to have a fine army. Banish the thought of redundancy! I feel that Army should never give Agara Farm land to the government. The farm should be developed as a high tech Army Botanical Garden of sorts and make it open to public at a cost. The army can have its proposed army soft ware development centre and the Naval Unit located inside the Botanical garden.

The Belandur lake also needs to be taken into account.
View Larger Map BBMP should be encouraged to develop this area on an urgent basis, with a PPP model or otherwise. Land swap is a brilliant Idea, should take it forward.

My biggest scare with the army moving out is the Land Mafia that will move in. they will somehow convert this lung space into a multi story sprawling IT Tech Park! The project may start with a few citizen protests and all, but knowing thier power this could well be over ridden! Hence as long as the army stays there, there is no encroachment and the land doesn't become a stink bed! Same goes for all the army land in Central Bangalore. If that were to go, all hell would break loose. And everyone would want a share of the pie. Not something I look forward to all. The army also brings a certain bit of pride and nostalgia to the city, if they did give up thier land and go - it would be a teary moment! I suggest that army "chills out"a bit, and opens thier land for public. Hence the army themselves can convert empty, green, lush land into parks. People could be allowed inside this park during morning/evenings and an entry fee can be collected. This would turn to be another source of Income for the army (to which we are paying 85,000Crores anyway!) This could be a bonus to the regiment, leading to happiness all around! But the problem is the Army is scared of anyone entering thier establishments. They did not allow an underground parking lot at Manekshaw Parade Ground, as the Brig in charge was scared someone would land up with a truck full of RDX! We can't keep closing ourselves because of terror. we have to open up, and have better security. I do hope the army considers this!

I live bang next to the army land and I very much echo the first part of narayan's views. I am dead concerned that sooner or later something like this will be hijacked by our dear politicains and land mafia after which there is no control. This land was given to the army ages ago. Should not the city have built its own parks, planned itself well. When we (the city) mess up, dont run after people who have not messed up. Let them enjoy what they rightfully own. This is literally my problem too, I have kept a lot of space and built a beautifull garden. But this encourages lot of people to lotier around and sit under the trees just outside. What you are saying is because I have a garden I should open it up to the general public and let them enjoy their romance in my garden ??? Lets focus on clearing up the city mess ourselves. Once you start close interaction, the mess will spread around and sooner or later it will start - one nook and corner here, poor peoples housing, very justifyable sounding reasons and then the lung space will be nostalgia. The wall between civilian and army is very much neccessary, both physical and psycological. Right now this is the only way to ensure that army remains a notch higher in their integrity and abilities and specifically the Bangalore lung space remains. Instead we should take this as a lesson learnt and ensure that Challaghatta Bagh or whatevery park is part of the next CDP. That is a longer but correct way to go. The temptation to take shortcuts is high but we will never learn our lessons that way.

Suhas

Srk, You have a valid point. Invasion of personal property. In your case it makes sense, your pvt gardent has no right to be converted (and messed up) by public. But the Army, is part of the govt too. You see, if we dont ever change the fact that park leads to vendors and hawkers and then a mess, then we will never get a park worth keeping. The advantage here is, that if the Army maintains the park and enforces laws within it, not only will it create a better civic understanding, but also it will give much wanted income to the regiment in charge. Face that facts - there is no where else in the city where a park of such magnitude can be built apart from Army Land. Do citizens deserve to be burden with pollution because the town planner failed? We need to find a solution that serves both purposes.

SB, Very creative idea worth taking forward but for the concerns raised by everyone. The concerns are grave enough to not proceed. Mind you, it still does not save the land, Pune Armed forces land is up for grabs by the PPP for the Metro rail (if not that, then its the land owned by Agriculture college). ASJ

Atleast let the army develop parks - without changing the existing green cover. Then atleast, Bangaloreans can still have more green space. The point is - the army lands need to be put to good use rather than keeping them idle. Perhaps Bangalore Inc can join the PPP as part of their CSR and work towards establishing more parks like JP Park on Army land.

We could probably brain storm to get a viable plan of action and act fast. We need to gather support of other like minded organizations and personalities. We need to contact the Army too.

I have noticed, the population of birds and other animals in the city is gradually decreasing. In fact, Sparrows are almost missing. How about we create an eco-park which allows our next gen to see animals without having to drive out for a weekend? No point, building a cubbon park kind of place for such a cause, the human inteference will chase them all away! How about we create this into an ECO park, and restrict the number of visitors today. Like a cinema hall, you sell tickets in advance! It can also be a great place for people to learn how to visit nature without harming it. Less crowd means easier enforcement and education.

Bangalore Inc can fund landscaping, designing, simple infrastructure like seats, children's play areas, simple bridges over lakes, fountains, small solar pv/wind lights for such parks. Funding can come from their CSR funds. We can tap international donors as well. If Barney Marcus and family can fund the Georgia Aquarium along with help of other companies based out of Georgia, i am sure we in Bangalore can rope in NRN, Premji and others to fund such initiatives.

There are multiple perspectives here - 1. Army civilian interaction : In my view, this is best kept to the minimum. Just like we do not want the Army to interfere in our politics and govermental affairs (like they do in Pakistan), if we are serious about the seperation, it should be maintained at all levels. There will be issues once you start getting closer - familiarity breeds contempt - somebody who cannot afford the entry fee will have a grudge against the army, a jawan might make a pass at a girl and the city folks might get into a brawl .. am not sure whose jurisdiction it falls in, people will come in with all kinds of requests, on the timings, kind of park et al - so the peoples representatives - aka politicans will be called in. Army specially needs the distance so that we maintain a healty respect. As my house falls on the border, I have seen some jawans behave lewdly when females are around, my respect has come down, though it might be just a case of one or two rotten apples. 2. Use : Some of you have commented the land is not being used. That has a different connotation to different people - I have seen Army folks still jog and march in that area - to them that is use. To others unless you construct some buildings its not being used - might tempt the army into constructing something there. And surely, a beautifull housing colony would be a great use of that - right ? Similarly some people might feel a park is a good use. To someone, nature left to itself, with all the ecosystem it naturally supports, be in just birds, mongooses, squirels, snakes might be the best use. Surely you will not allow snakes to roam around in the park - would you ? We can learn to respect nature by learning to resist our temptation and leave it alone. 3. Why only this ? We all want our city to be better, thats why we are here. But there are a zillion other things that one could do - design better roads - take care of our lakes - enforce layouts to have good spacing and greenery - plan our mass transport better - ensure future developmental plans incorporate large lakes and parks - why not put our energies in improving something that is not good rather than runnning after and potentially screwing up what is right now very good. 4. Army can take care of its property : I think the army is pretty good of guarding its property, otherwise we would not be entrusting them with guarding our country. Problem is it can take care of local mafia, however if it comes from the top - central govt., then it becomes legally bound. If at all we are concerned about losing it, we can work to protect it by strengenthing the law into protecting it.

Suhas

Suhas, Our good friend and neighbour to the west has a unique distinction in which the army has a country. But it is opposite in our case. With us, the country has a army. I hope you get the difference! ;-) Army interaction in politics when it comes to formulating defence strategy and overall foreign relations is needed. Observe how our Navy elevated us to Regional Power status after the 2004 tsunami. Thus, it is important to realise that we as a country *have* an army which we *can* use for our purposes. While i laud our armed forces, i do not go to the extent like most of my other country men do in worshipping them. As much as i cheer the Late Sam Manekshaw, he has his shortcomings and took too much credit for our 1971 victory. But this is for a different thread. The point is we should not go to the extent of being pontificated by our military. I am the biggest opposer of the Sixth Pay Commission for bureaucratic leeches. I support a huge pay raise for personnel of armed forces instead. Coming back to the point, Victor Hugo once remarked that one should "change one's leaves, but not one's roots". Sure the Army Establishment in Bangalore has a hoary past with a lot of nostalgia attached to it. But we must change with times. Surely asking for better parks is not comparable to asking for secrets about weapons of mass destruction!

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Narayan, mcadambi, You have made your point well - no need to be over sensitive on army civilian interaction, at least as far as a park is concerned :) Still, stand by on the other points - especially would rather leave nature to itself

Suhas