The serene ambiance of Cubbon Park, often referred to as the ‘lungs of Bengaluru’, has been disrupted by the echoes of protests as hundreds gathered today to oppose the Karnataka government’s controversial plan to construct a 10-storey building as an annex to the High Court within the cherished green expanse of the public park.
Cubbon Park, spanning across a sprawling 300 acres, holds a special place in the hearts of Bengalureans, offering a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Adorned with fountains, statues, and lush greenery, the park also houses the historic Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, serving as the State Library.
The revival of the proposal, which had been on hold for the past five years due to relentless opposition from activists and environmentalists, has sparked renewed public outcry. Concerns have been raised about the potential encroachment on park space and the subsequent surge in pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
One activist, expressing the sentiments of many, stated, “Cubbon Park is not just a park, but an emotion for many of us who have been born and brought up in Bengaluru. With the kind of stressful lives we lead, Cubbon Park is where people of the city come with their friends, children, relatives to spend some quality time.”
The proposed construction not only entails erecting a 10-storey building but also involves building parking space, further exacerbating concerns about traffic congestion in the area.
The recent government order issued by the Horticulture Department on February 8, permitting the movement of vehicles inside Cubbon Park on selected Saturdays for three months, has added fuel to the fire, intensifying worries about the park’s ecological integrity.
Activists have emphasized the crucial role of Cubbon Park in maintaining the city’s air quality, dubbing it the ‘lungs of the city’. Destroying such a vital green space, they argue, would be detrimental to Bengaluru’s environmental health.
Prominent figures, including Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the Executive Chairperson of Biocon Ltd, have joined the chorus of dissent. Mazumdar-Shaw took to social media to express her concerns, urging authorities to refrain from what she termed as “harebrained proposals”.
In her post, she wrote, “Why are we destroying our Garden City with such harebrained proposals! Cubbon Park must be untouched. No construction should be permitted.”
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader and MP from Bangalore Central, PC Mohan, condemned the move as “green genocide”, emphasizing the need to safeguard Bengaluru’s green spaces.
Responding to the backlash, Dr. Shamla Iqbal, the Secretary of the Department of Horticulture, disclosed that alternative sites have been suggested to the government. She assured that high-level committees are deliberating on the matter and exploring alternative options.
As the debate rages on, the fate of Cubbon Park hangs in the balance, with citizens and authorities locked in a tug-of-war between development and environmental conservation.
Sources By Agencies