BENGALURU, 15 MARCH

Civic activists and experts convened at the Bengaluru Press Club on Saturday to discuss potential legal challenges against what they deem unscientific infrastructure plans proposed by the Karnataka government. The meeting, part of the 'Bengaluru Town Hall' initiative, focused on seeking urgent judicial intervention against governance decisions perceived as undemocratic.

Central to the discussion was the opposition to the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Bill, which activists argue contravenes the 74th Constitutional Amendment. Comprised of nearly 50 civic groups, the Bengaluru Town Hall aimed to develop a legal strategy to halt projects that lack sound scientific planning and do not adequately address the city's infrastructural needs.

Civic activist and actor Prakash Belawadi, who spearheaded the Bengaluru Town Hall forum, highlighted the significance of collective action in challenging such projects. "Together, we can compel the government to abandon ill-conceived plans, just as we have successfully done in the past," he asserted.

Prominent figures in the civic space, including Rajkumar Dugar, Ashish Verma, and Karthiyayini Chamaraj, took part in the discussions. The meeting sought to finalise a resolution for legal proceedings, with aspirations to enlist all civic groups in Bengaluru as signatories to the litigation. Legal experts were consulted to determine the most effective course of action.