Bengaluru: Walkers at Cubbon Park have been hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day at the city's lung space since 2012. But this year, they will not. Instead, they will be hold a protest.
“We will hold our protest in front of Central Library in Cubbon Park from 7 am on August 15. This is because, there has been no development whatsoever at Cubbon Park since 2012. It used to be a forest and now they have cut thousands of trees for construction,” said Mr Umesh Kumar, president, Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association.
Their grouse is that full-grown, age old trees were cut for private clubs, half-done projects like rain water harvesting unit, government offices like PWD and BWSSB, the waste water treatment plant and even by the Horticulture Department office itself. Safety and security measures for the premises, like CCTV cameras, security guards and proper gates, have still not been installed, they said.
On a more serious note, Mr Kumar said, “We want the Deputy Director of Cubbon Park, Mahantesh Murgod, transferred. He has not done anything in the park's interest.”
Association members plan to submit their list of demands to Governor Vajubhai Vala on Tuesday. Environmentalists, like Suresh Heblikar, are expected to join.
Horticulture Commissioner P.C. Ray told Deccan Chronicle, “The department has fought a lot to keep traffic away from Cubbon Park. This created an issue with the traffic police and escalated to the chief secretary level, but we finally succeeded. Many groups and government bodies, like the Tourism Department, are eyeing the park. But we are trying to keep it only for walkers, joggers and nature-lovers.”
Mr Ray said, “Water bodies within Cubbon Park are being rejuvenated by Mr Murgod. The one place we are stuck in is the parking problem near Hudson Circle gate, which once resolved will restore the sanity in that busy area. People's ideas, including those from the Walkers' Association, are welcome and if their protest helps us, then that is welcome too.”
