Bengaluru: The Horticulture Department will be watched with interest on Thursday, as a big decision is being made on the city's only two lung spaces. A proposal by the Tourism Department to open up Lalbagh and Cubbon Park to night tourism has made environmentalists unhappy.
“They want to keep the parks open until 1 am for two days a month. Food stalls, entertainment programmes, lighting up of Band Stand, Bal Bhavan and night safaris on buggies (golf cars) is what they have in mind. They can't manage law and order of the park in the day, how will they do it at night,” asked president of Cubbon Park Walker's Assosciation, Umesh Kumar.
The idea has raised eyebrows, not only of visitors and nature lovers, but also the park's Technical Advisory Committee.
What could go wrong?
“Cubbon Park is near M.G. Road, which means many people might come here drunk. Prostitution, robbery, drug peddling and more is bound to increase. They happen during the day anyway and will now happen in the night too," Umesh said, adding that monitoring a 200-acre park is not easy.
On a more scientific note, Mr Yellappa Reddy, an environmentalist and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the park, said, “After sunset, the life of the park changes. Biological functions of plants and animals change, which should not be interfered with. The bats, owls and other nocturnal animals hunt for food. The plants switch from photosynthesis to respiration."
“The effects will not be noticeable at first, but everything from an imbalance in the predators’ food intake and plants' growth, oxygen supply, seeding and flowering will be affected. They contribute to our ecosystem and, if disturbed, its health will be affected," he explained.
Who calls the shots?
“On Thursday, Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge is meeting Horticulture Commissioner P.C. Ray. The final say is with the Horticulture Department and the commissioner will take a decision tomorrow,” said Joint Director of Horticulture Dr Jagadeesh.
Mr Yellappa Reddy argued that decision should be taken after consulting with TAC. “Firstly, they have not informed us. They are supposed to run it by us before taking a decision. The Horticulture Department must reject it. Why spoil the only two green patches in Bengaluru,” Reddy asked.
