Elections are around the corner,   less than 15 days are there to go for the launch of Indira Canteens - the government's ambitious program to provide food at affordable price in each of the 198 wards in Bengaluru. It has already created a situation of "emergency" among residents of Bangalore.

Heritage sites, Parks, playgrounds are razed to accommodate the ambitious project called Indira canteens. In its four year rule, the government has never shown such an urgency and negligence. Elections are due early next year and all efforts are on to finish the project by hook or crook before the elections. This has created a sense of emergency among residents, senior citizens as trees are uprooted, heritage sites razed and parks are destroyed.

Heritage building razed

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) razed a heritage building that is nearly 100 years old, within the Murphy Town Market, to make way for an Indira Canteen. Shopkeepers were shocked to see the building reduced to a rubble. The demolition has drawn the ire of heritage activists. Until recently, the stone building housed a public library that was relocated two weeks ago.

BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad defended the move saying the building was dilapidated and could have collapsed any time. reports <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/heritage-structure-makes-way-for-indira-canteen/article19356862.ece">thehindu</a>. The civic body’s argument that the Murphy Town Market building was dilapidated and unused, and hence razed to make way for an Indira Canteen does not hold much water.

The single-story stone building with high ceiling housed the City Central Library till very recently. Heritage experts have pointed out that the building could have been refurbished and used as a canteen instead of being brought down. Abdul Haleem, secretary, Murphy Town Market Traders Welfare Association, said that the library was shifted two weeks ago to another building two streets away. He said the building is a sturdy stone structure that is neither unused nor dilapidated.

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Temple land used?

As per the reports in TOI, Banashankari temple, a well-known landmark in the city, is all set to co-exist with the Indira Canteen. Despite resistance from many residents, the BBMP is starting work to set up a canteen right next to the heritage temple. Prakash S, a political activist opposed to the canteen's location, said it's sad that the BBMP is making use of temple land to set up an Indira Canteen. "There are several issues with the way the Palike has taken up the project. Officials chose the place in a hurry so that they could meet the August 15 deadline. How can government land meant for a temple be used to set up a canteen," asked Prakash. The project is being opposed by many residents too. According to sources, it's not just this temple land. In a rush to identify land to give shape to the project, BBMP has opted for places without public consultation, they claimed.

Prakash S, a political activist opposed to the canteen's location, said it's sad that the BBMP is making use of temple land to set up an Indira Canteen. "There are several issues with the way the Palike has taken up the project. Officials chose the place in a hurry so that they could meet the August 15 deadline. How can government land meant for a temple be used to set up a canteen," asked Prakash. The project is being opposed by many residents too.

 According to sources, it's not just this temple land. In a rush to identify land to give shape to the project, BBMP has opted for places without public consultation, they claimed.

Canteens coming up inside parks and Playgrounds

In the quiet residential area of Manjunatha Nagar in Rajajinagar, residents are protesting the conversion of a small local park into an Indira Canteen. The park, approximately 1,200 sq. feet in area, is used by mostly children and senior citizens. The local authorities, residents say, have planned to convert this land for the Indira Canteen project. Residents are strongly opposed to this idea and have expressed concerns to the local authorities. “The park is mostly used by old people during the mornings and evenings. With the park gone, people will have no other way to spend their leisure time,” says K Panduranga Rao, a resident of the area, reports thenewindianexpress

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Also, the park is located next to a temple and houses a banyan tree. Residents fear that this tree could be cut down for the construction of the canteen.

In the IT hub , Domlur, Canteen construction was on full swing inside a park . The residents had staged protest against the construction of the canteen inside the park claiming that it would harm the beauty of the park. The corporator of the ward also had opposed the construction of canteen by writing to the Mayor G Padmavathi. Finally, after strong opposition and protests, the government shifted it to an alternate location

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Congress government headed by AHINDA( minority, backward, Dalit) leader Siddaramaiah is known for bizarre socialist schemes like shaadi bhagya, had announced Indira canteens in a bid to woo votes from the lower sections of the society. Indira canteens are ill-conceived as these canteens will take away jobs of road side, small-scale eateries, which again largely belong to poorer sections of the society. Residents of Bangalore are getting a sense of "emergency" through these Indira Canteens. 

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