Ex-DGP opposes street fest at HAL II Stage, says it will ruin area

The high court on Thursday ordered issuance of notice to BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and Shantinagar MLA N A Haris in a PIL challenging the ‘Open Street Festival’ that is scheduled to be held on 100-ft Road, Indiranagar on January 15, 2017.

The petitioner, C Dinakar, a retired DG&IGP, has approached the High Court seeking directions to the state government and BBMP to prohibit holding the ‘Open Street Festival’ saying the festival would damage the infrastructure of HAL II Stage, Indiranagar and garbage would get piled up after the event. 

Dinakar, in his petition, said the ‘Open Street Festival’ is being conducted as BBMP and the tourism commissioner are not able to resist the pressure of MLA Haris. He says that it is a waste of public money which otherwise could be used for the betterment of roads.

The petitioner has said that HAL II Stage does not come under Shantinagar constituency and that there was no reason for Haris to get involved in the affairs of another constituency.

The petitioner has said that a huge amount of money is collected to conduct the festival. Mentioning details of Haris’s affidavit and details of his assets and liabilities during the Assembly elections of 2008 and 2013, Dinakar claimed that Haris has acquired wealth of Rs 113 crore during five years. He said that the residents of HAL II Stage should not suffer in order to help Haris increase his wealth.

Dinakar has said that the concept of ‘Open Street Festival’ is not suitable for Bengaluru roads as they are badly maintained and do not serve the purpose. He has said that the one-day event will result in several days of nightmare and residents will have to face pollution and infection from visitors who participate in the event. The petitioner has said that HAL II Stage is already in a bad shape and there is nothing to showcase to outsiders.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice R B Budihal ordered notice and adjourned the hearing to January 10, 2017.