Search
+
    The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

    Bengalurean Sneha Nandhial turns inspiration, shuts commercial establishments near her house

    Synopsis

    When she took up the gauntlet last year, she had no clue where to begin. Sneha Nandhial & her team had to research and hit upon a structure.

    ET Bureau
    By J Vignesh

    Bengalureans being fed up with commercial establishments cropping up in residential areas is nothing new. Someone finding an effective way to shut them down and restore peace, however, is Sneha Nandhial, president of the BM Kaval Residents Welfare Association and a banking consultant, has fought hard to close down 24 commercial establishments in her area in the past one year.

    For the 35-year-old citizen, this is an important civic duty because businesses in residential areas affect the quality of life. "It exerts pressure on the existing infrastructure: from sewage to parking to water facilities," she said.

    When she took up the gauntlet last year, she had no clue where to begin. Sneha and her team had to research and hit upon a structure.

    The magic formula she has arrived at is entirely within the framework of the law: identify all the commercial establishments in the area that have cropped up after 2012, file RTI or write to the BDA Town Planning to find out if the street is classified as residential according to the Revised Master Plan 2015. Then, file an RTI with the BBMP engineering department to get the width of the road and if it turns out to be less than 40 feet, no commercial building should be existing. That is what the February 2014 Karnataka High Court order specifies.

    Finally, file two RTIs: one with the BDA to see if the land usage change has been made from residential to commercial and another with the ward's medical officer of health to check if the commercial establishment has obtained trade licence and for what purpose and under what clause. If all these prove that the establishment should not exist, then the establishments will be given notice to vacate from the BBMP.

    How about the livelihood of those people who have to shut shop? "They , no doubt, have the right to livelihood but they should earn it under the ambit of the law," Nandhial said.

    Inspired by her formula, the Koramangala 3rd Block Residents' Welfare Association applied it to seven commercial establishments, all within the last week."These commercial establishments are like cancer. They will slowly eat away the residential area. Sneha has shown the way for other neighbourhoods to follow," said Nitin Seshadri, president of the Koramangala Residents' Welfare Association.

    Sneha's battle has not been a smooth ride. She has faced her share of verbal abuse and threats. "This is a constant battle. One has to be extremely vigilant and patient," said the civic-conscious Bengalurean.
    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
    ...more
    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in