The price of breathtaking growth India’s Silicon Valley is paying
Sleepy Bangalore became nationally and internationally famous all of a sudden. But at what cost?
The cost of living has increased manifold.
Rentals have doubled and even trebled in many localities. Land costs have multiplied. Property prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary people and there is no indication of the price rise abating in the near future.
In fact, the rising inflation and consequent interest rates will only push the property cost upwards.
The major developments which contributed to the present state of affairs have been:
The haphazard growth of the city and suburbs.
Mushrooming developers making merry using the ever increasing demand for housing, without ensuring basic amenities such as roads, transport, water supply, sanitation, drainage, and waste disposal facilities, which are left to the government agencies unable to match the ever-increasing requirements of the facilities.
Sanctioning private housing layouts, townships and multi-storeyed apartment buildings without sufficient backup services. Unbridled speculative investment in land and buildings, cornering land in anticipation of a price rise in the short and medium terms.What should have been done to prevent the present mess?
Some of the steps which would have stemmed the rot are: implementation of the Urban Arts Commission under the chairmanship of the late T.P. Issar for retaining the heritage of Bangalore, clear demarcation of residential and commercial zones, strict guidelines for constructions and administrative vigil on deviations from sanctioned plans, deterrent punishment for encroachment on government land and so on.
K. SUKUMARAN
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