The fight to save Bengaluru's fast depleting green cover, particularly the once serene oasis that was Cubbon Park, could come to a head this coming Saturday when the greens come out to battle for what they prize above all else - a wooded enclave that emits clean air, and that is in grave danger of seeing a spate of construction activity, bulldozers, diggers running amok if a seven storey annexe to the High Court is allowed to come up.
Leading the charge to Save Cubbon Park is Umesh Kumar, President, Cubbon Park Walkers Association, who has filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in the High Court on Tuesday. Opposing the construction of the concrete monstrosity at the old Election Commission Office building, Mr Umesh Kumar, has filed the petition against a long list of government representatives, including the Principal Secretary, Dept of Horticulture, the Deputy Director of Horticulture (Cubbon Park), BDA and BBMP.
The petition reads, “The Petitioner Association is extensively involved in preservation and protection of the historical place – Cubbon Park – for the past 7 years. The petitioner has been instrumental in moving the Lokayukta in 2014 for ensuring scientific survey of Cubbon Park area and prevention of illegal constructions or encroachments within the Cubbon Park area.’ The new building will cause harm to the environment and pose a security threat to nearby buildings, especially Raj Bhavan, it added. “The public interest will suffer if the construction of the building on the park premises is allowed,” he stated in the plea, seeking a stay on the construction of the new building.
On Saturday, the CPWA will form a human chain at the old Election Commission office building in Cubbon Park with the message: “No…No… No… 7 Storeyed Building ”. The state government clarified that permission was given for the multi-storey building to house high court offices as per the High Court directions without cutting any trees. It was also decreed that the height of the proposed building should not exceed the that of the existing BSNL office at the Cubbon Park premises.
