Save Cubbon Park Campaign
His
Excellency Shri Khushid Alam Khan
Governor
of Karnataka
Raj
Bhavan
Bangalore
560 001
30
January 1999
Reg.: Threat to Cubbon Park due to Government action.
Your
Excellency Sir,
We
respectfully bring to your attention a matter that has anguished citizens of
Bangalore for several months now: the persisting threat to Cubbon Park.
Considering
that despite all the peaceful protests and active response the citizens
demonstrated, your Government has not responded with an adequate and fitting
gesture, we once again approach you seeking your intervention for a strong and
permanent solution aimed at settling the citizens concern once and
forever.
As
you are aware during October and November last year, citizens across Bangalore
joined together in an amazing alliance to save one of their most cherished
heritage: Cubbon Park. Despite all the
attention that this impromptu campaign drew regionally, nationally and even
across the world, the Government of Karnataka, rather than accepting our just
demands, targeted us with ridicule and contemptuously addressed our genuine
concerns.
After
all, we were only saying that Cubbon Park is so much a part of Bangalore’s
ethos, that it is very difficult to accept that the Government should consider
shrinking the Park size by an area of 45 acres. Which particularly aimed at according legal protection to the
ongoing illegal construction of the Legislators Home Annexe.
It
was hoped that in view of the suo moto direction
of the High Court of Karnataka on 2nd November 1999 staying the
de-notification order of 30th July 1998, the Government of Karnataka
would immediately stay the construction of the Annexe. Not for any other reason but in due respect
for the Rule of Law. Sad to say, the
Government has continued constructing the Annexe, and the Legislature Chief
recently announced plans for an expansion of the existing Legislators Home at a
cost of Rs. 4 crores.
In addition, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has announced plans to put up a Water Reservoir Station within the “LRDE area” of Cubbon Park. And there are plans to locate a Sewage Treatment Plant in the main Cubbon area itself. All this when even basic maintenance of the Park has been lacking in several respects.
In
our most humble opinion, the Government’s action represents utter contempt for
the Honourable Court’s order in this regard, and suggests that it is acceptable
that the Government violates Land Use laws, and norms.
It
is over three months since the Campaign was dis-continued in respect for the
intervention of the Judiciary. Various
Public Spirited individuals and organisations have filed Impleading
Applications in the suo moto
proceeding of the High Court so as to seek a permanent and legal solution to
the issue. Sad to say, delays in the
Court have caused anxiety amongst the public if justice will be dispensed in
time. Especially considering the
Government continues with its plans that are wholly destructive of the Park’s
landscape and legal protection accorded to it.
In
this regard we approach you with the hope that your august office will initiate
such action that will provide a permanent and legal solution in according
protection to the most cherished heritage of Bangalore.
Thank
you for your cooperation and support.
Yours
respectfully,
Leo F. Saldanha, Coordinator, Environment Support
Group.
Bimal Desai, Principal Litigant in the Cubbon Park
case.
V. K. Somashekar, Managing Trustee, Grahaka Shakti
Address for contact:
Sanmathi, 1188, 3rd Cross, 26th Main, 1st Phase, J.P. Nagar, Bangalore 560 078
Tel: 6636291, 6638513 Fax: 6637947
Environment Support Group ®, 36, Reservoir Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560 004
Telefax: 6614855 Email: [email protected]