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)

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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).