Eighty five year old Ramachandra struggle for BDA site
Eighty five year old, freedom fighter K Ramachandra struggle for BDA site. He was nominated by Gandhi Bhavan for a site allotted for freedom fighters in 2008. After two years, he explained that his site was still part of a stretch of land which was fast turning into a garbage dump. He had been unable to do anything about it as he still does not know which was his site. On Monday, the Gandhian lost his cool, after waiting for hours to meet the BDA Commissioner, he threatened to go on a fast in true “Gandhian” style.
Eighty five year old K Ramachandra was nominated by Gandhi Bhavan for a site allotted for freedom fighters in 2008. Ramachandra struggle for BDA site and has taken innumerable trips to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) office to get the coordinates of the site he was allotted in BTM Layout and on Monday, the Gandhian lost his cool. After waiting for hours to meet the BDA Commissioner, he threatened to go on a fast in true “Gandhian” style.
“I live on pension and some farming I do near Kanakapura. The site is what I got for this,” he said. Pointing to a scar on his head and an injury in his left eye, which partially affected his vision. “I was seventeen when I was hit in the struggle and hospitalised for over three months,” the old fighter said. After calming down, he showed the allotment letter dated February 25, 2008 and the deed which mentioned the payment of Rs 2.57 lakhs made by him. He also has copies of representations written by him to the BDA commissioner with the last one dated December 16, 2010, where he had requested for the coordinates. On Monday, he came to enquire about his petition yet again.
“I was not allowed through the gates at 1 pm saying that the office was closed for lunch. I travelled by bus from Kanakapura and I do not deserve to be treated like this at my age. Finally, they said the commissioner will meet people after 3 pm. I took a token and waited. After much delay, I asked what happened. The peon first said the commissioner was having lunch and later said he was at a meeting with Vidhana Soudha officials. This is appalling,” he said agitated.
After two years, he explained that his site was still part of a stretch of land which was fast turning into a garbage dump. He had been unable to do anything about it as he still does not know which was his site. When (TNIE-The New Indian Express) asked BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena about the issue, he said he had asked his engineers to provide the coordinates at the earliest. With this reply, the eighty five year old Ramachandra said he would wait for their reply. “I hope this is my last trip to this place and will never have to come again.”
Bangalore, BDA Bangalore, BDA Commissioner, BDA Site for freedom fighters in 2008, Freedom Fighter, Nominated by Gandhi Bhavan for BDA site, Threatened to go on a fast
