Janaagraha
Janaagraha
Namma Metro's impact on namma trees
I live in Domlur - I moved here 16 years ago; one of my favourite roads was the CMH road in Indiranagar because it was a good example of sensible progress; even with the profusion of shops, the road had old beautiful shady trees on either side that almost formed a green canopy; with the metro rail route traversing through CMH road, every single tree on this road has been felled; the first time I saw CMH road after the trees were felled, it was like a physical blow; I cannot begin to describe what this has done to the street; it looks like how a human being would look with his limbs chopped off; it also makes one feel desperate and helpless; we all know and understand the need for better infrastructure in our city - but at what cost? this tree felling was staunchly and vociferously opposed by the residents and the traders of this area but in the end, the government went ahead and did what they wanted anyway; it's all very well to talk about democracy and citizen participation but I know for a fact how hard people tried to 'save' CMH road and failed; so how do you convince citizens to be more proactive and less cynical?
The constitution and Environment
Dear Aparna
To add on further to what you just mentioned, the Indian constitution states the following :
In the Constitution of India it is clearly stated that it is the duty of the state to ‘protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country’. It imposes a duty on every citizen ‘to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife’. Reference to the environment has also been made in the Directive Principles of State Policy as well as the Fundamental Rights. The Department of Environment was established in India in 1980 to ensure a healthy environment for the country. This later became the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1985.
Article 51A (g) imposes a similar responsibility on every citizen “to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for all living creatures.”
In the democratic set up as ours, the citizen's awareness of the legal powers that are conferred on the citizen by virtue of being a citizen alone, is what will determine their confidence in participation.
Why are all of us not aware of the powers we possess? There is nothing more powerful than an aware citizen's voice.
Let us not forget that without "WE THE PEOPLE" there can be neither constitution nor country.
I couldn't agree more with
I couldn't agree more with you; however, like I noted in my post, in this particular instance, the citizens' voice just didn't matter; the residents and traders of this area protested long and loud in an effort to stop the government but it simply didn't work.
Namma metro's impact on namma trees
I was also shocked and upset to see all the trees gone on CMH Road and part of the resident group which requested that the metro rail be routed through Old Madras Road. Unfortunately today there is no way for residents to formally participate in our neighbourhood issues. This is what Janaagraha is trying to change through the Citizen Participation Law which is a mandatory reform advocated by Janaagraha under the JNNURM the largest Urban Renewal Mission in India. Once Area Sabhas are in place and functioning there will be a formal voice for citizens even at the planning stage instead of having to wait until it's too late which is what happened with CMH Road. Citizens were in the dark as to the plans and route of Metro Rail. We residents can't get dejected by disappointments - we've to keep pushing the Govt to be accountable to us. We may still have disappointments but at least there will be a process to it and more transparency.
Namma metro's impact on namma trees
Aparna, I did try to reply to your response to my comment but couldn't. So I'm replying to my comment. Basically today the Govt DOES NOT HAVE to listen to us - they do so at their discretion and when they know our voice will be of no consequence. There is NO MANDATE today. That is what will change with the Citizen Participation Law and that's why the law is so important. But its effectiveness will also depend on how we citizens use the law by participating in large numbers. Otherwise it will just remain as one more law.