The last time HSR Habba was held at BBMP Grounds in Sector 2, the residents were mighty upset because the organisers had visually polluted HSR Layout with flex banners and posters across the neighbourhood. Importantly, they had even nailed scores of posters on trees, which is the worst way to propagate anything. In addition, they were also guilty of noise pollution as their cultural programmes went on beyond midnight.
This time around, they have created a flutter among citizens by putting out on social media that they will put up over 1000 “eco-friendly” banners and 1 lakh pamphlets. Even if it’s a cloth banner, it’s visual pollution of the highest kind. Imagine staring at the banner at every cross section of HSR Layout. We have no idea how BBMP or the traffic police can give permission for that kind of atrocity. But we do know that it has the blessings of local MLA Satish Reddy.
The HSR Habba guys defended themselves by saying, “We also have sporting activities like running race, throw ball, volleyball, tug of war, slow cycling, lemon & spoon, in addition to the flea market,” said one official of HSR Habba. However, that comprised only half a day’s worth of sporting events while the other two-and-a-half-days are geared towards shopping and entertainment. But the organisers have assured us that there won’t be posters being nailed to the trees like they did the last time around. If you do spot them, take a picture and mail us, dear reader. The organisers have also assured us that they will finish the musical performances by 11pm.
Therefore, the HSR residents are urging the MLA to understand the citizen’s concerns and ensure that he does not aid and abet visual pollution of this magnitude. In addition, the last time around, the cultural functions went on till 1am causing much noise pollution as well. They hope that the function ends by 11pm and the decibel levels are curtailed after 9pm. The Sector 2 Residents Welfare Association has written to the BBMP a number of times in the last three years about not commercialising the grounds, but to no avail. They have insisted that the open grounds should only be given for sporting events and no permanent structures be erected.
The residents have tweeted to the BBMP Commissioner, BBMP mayor and Deputy Chief Minister regarding the misuse of the playgrounds as well. Going by the handle of @WeAreHSRLayout, they tweeted that “BBMP Grounds are getting misused for commercial activities, fully promoted by MLA Bommanahalli! This ground was saved from building a judges colony only to be misused by people in power! This is a misuse of law!”
