BBMP Grounds in HSR Layout: Crumbling under too many non-sports events!

Residents are angry that the BBMP Grounds in Sector 2 are being used more for religious and political functions than sporting activities. Not only are they at the receiving end of noise and air pollution due to the many functions that happen here but also upset that there is no upkeep or maintenance being done to restore it to its original state after the activities are over.

The government officials are just as fed up with this but express their helplessness as most of these events have the backing of local politicians. Despite the Sector 2 Residents Welfare Association expressing their open displeasure on a number of occasions more than two years ago, nothing is being done to contain the systematic massacre of this open space. The ground is now uneven, and dug up at some places; the weeds and grass are coming up in patches all over. The ground is giving way to a jungle, if proper measures are not taken by the BBMP in maintaining it, and only grant permissions to sporting events.

RESIDENTS FOUGHT FOR 5 YEARS TO TAKE BACK THIS GROUND
When Kumaraswamy was the chief minister in his earlier avatar, he had granted this patch of land to the High Court judges to build their quarters here. That’s when HSR residents united as one and filed a petition in the court. After much patience and perseverance, they won the case and the land was handed back to the BDA, the original owner of the land. Later, the BDA handed the land to the BBMP as HSR is now under its jurisdiction.

However, the BBMP is ruled by the local corporator and MLA. Despite many assurances, the local politicians, be it corporator Gurumurthy Reddy or MLA Satish Reddy, haven’t been able to say ‘no’ to the many event organisers who come in all hues and colours – political and religious. Votebank politics is at play here, and they agree to such events despite knowing that the residents are opposed to the idea. The residents have no other option now but to move the court again and take back what is rightfully for sporting events only.