Should concrete structures be allowed in our public parks? We are polling answers to this question, to allow for further action to be taken by concerned citizens on the matter.
Please click here for Poll after reading a blog post below. Reproduced here is a blog post by citizens who are actively involved in resolving this issue:
This is about the country's first National Military Memorial (NMM), the foundation for which was laid at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, Bangalore on February 10 ,2009. It was termed a welcome move as the project was just a landscape concept without any buildings or other concrete structure inside the park. Residents' welfare associations in the vicinity and morning walkers at the park welcomed the project in good faith as it was assured that it will have no negative impact on the green cover. Of course, it is the duty of every citizen to respect the valiant men who died fighting for the country.
However, the blueprint of the project revealed that the construction of NMM would take a toll on the trees. While the government sources said 18 trees will be axed, members of the executive committee of NMM project contended that only four trees will be chopped to facilitate construction of a motivation hall.
Way back in 1996, the government had issued an order clearly prohibiting any construction activity inside the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park. The order had also prohibited transfer of land to other departments or private individuals. Not just the order, even Section 8 of the Karnataka Parks, Playfields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act - 1985 had banned construction of buildings or setting up of any structure that are likely to affect the utility of the park, playfield or open space or make any encroachment. The promoters of the Park now contend that the Motivation hall will be built underground. Following a citizens' petition and citing the possible traffic congestion and security hazards to Raj Bhavan, His Excellency, Shri H R Bhardwaj wrote to the Chief Minister Shri B S Yeddyurappa suggesting that the memorial be shifted to an open space and not be entrusted to a private trust. However, the construction of the memorial began by installing brick walls and digging at the marked site using earth-moving equipment. This work was taken up when the BBMP election code of conduct was in place. The issue under scrutiny is - Should concrete structures be allowed inside public parks? Can the NMM be located in any other government-owned open plot or in defence land? If you wish to support this cause write to: Dr Sudhir Pai at neuropai@gmail.com
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