Residents ask CM: you want our votes or new zoning rules?

The chief minister of Karnataka will soon be receiving postcards from citizens all over the city, asking if he wants them to choose his government in the 2018 Assembly election or settle for the new Common Zoning Regulations.

Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) have begun a campaign against the proposed zoning regulations which were notified on July 1.

They are concerned that the new rules will allow commercial establishments in residential areas, disturbing peace in their neighbourhood and stretching limited resources.

RWAs across the city are now busy writing postcards addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“Keeping in mind the 2018 elections in the state, we are writing sarcastic comments about whether the chief minister wants us to choose his government or the new zoning rules,” said Somayaji, member of the J P Nagar 4th Phase RWA.

The RWA is also mobilising citizens to send in their objections to the Urban Development Department. “We will send objections too but we don’t know if they will consider our comments seriously. So, we want to appeal to the political bosses as well,” he said.

People in Indiranagar, Koramangala, Richmond Town and other RWAs are working hard at the ‘#CommonZoningBeda’ or ‘#HosaZoningBeda’ campaign. They are getting people to sign letters of objections to send to the Urban Development Department before July 31.

They will also work on the postcard campaign simultaneously. Meanwhile, they are using social media to spread the word and let others know that with the new rules, their next-door neighbours could be a salon, a gas agency or a bottling plant.

Citizens hope that the power of public opinion will sway the government, just as it did with the 6.7-kilometre steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal.