Deccan Chronicle       27.12.2010

Underground parking lot will not affect park

Underground
parking lots are the solution to the parking woes of the city. We are
facing a land crunch in most places to build such lots due to various
reasons and that is why we have selected the Indira Gandhi Musical
Fountain Park.

BBMP has sent a proposal in this regard to the Public
Works Department (PWD) and Horticulture Department as the entire area is
under their possession. We have requested these departments to consider
our proposal and give their observations.

In my view, The Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park has a
number of advantages to accommodate the first-ever underground parking
lot of the city. Vehicle density is high in this area and once
construction of the war memorial finishes, I feel the number of visitors
will go up steadily. This location is also close to all the major
installations from the police commissioner’s office to LH, Vidhana
Soudha, Raj Bhavan, High Court.

BBMP is also fully aware of the environmental impact of
the proposed project. According to our knowledge, we need to cut only
two trees to implement this project. The rest of the area required is
covered by shrubs. There will not be any environmental impact on the
park. We will take everything into consideration if we get clearance
from departments concerned for this project.

(H. Siddaiah is BBMP commissioner)

* * *

Act bans construction works in all parks

By Vinay Shrinivasa

I would like to clarify on some issues. The Indira Gandhi
Musical Fountain Park falls under the purview of the Karnataka
Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975 which has stringent clauses
when it comes to saving our parks and open spaces. All types of
construction works inside the parks are banned totally under this Act.

If the government wants to build this underground parking
lot at The Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, it must first bring
amendments to the existing law, which is not easy. I do not want to
continue this argument as it is impossible to come up with such a
project inside a park. Even if the Horticulture and Public Works
Department agree to hand over the land, BBMP cannot build this type of
mega structure. It will be in violation of several court orders too.

The Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park is the lung of the
city. Its protection is our duty. Any construction work means
destruction of the lung space which definitely will have an adverse
impact on the environment. But I strongly feel there is no need to
debate on the issue as law strictly prohibits such activities inside the
park.

The government as well as BBMP should keep this in mind
before proposing such a project. As society is keenly observing each and
every development, I feel the BBMP cannot implement this idea at all.

(Vinay Shrinivasa is member of Hasiru Usiru).