Environment
Support Group ®
36, Reservoir Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore
560 004
Tel: 91-80-6614855/6657995 Fax: 2274699
Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.altindia.net/esg/index.htm
The
Officer Concerned
Royal
Norwegian Embassy
Shantipath,
Chanakyapuri
New
Delhi 110 021
Friday,
March 05, 1999
Reg.: Citizens concerns over Norwegian funding for sewage
treatment plant within Cubbon Park.
Dear
Sir or Madam,
It
has been reported in the local press that your Government is assisting the
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to the extent of Rs. 1.6 crores, in
the setting up of a sewage treatment plant within Cubbon Park. Whilst we certainly appreciate your
extraordinary commitment to environmental management in Bangalore, we are of
the opinion that the sewage treatment plant is an excellent proposition, but at
the wrong place.
You
may be aware that since last year thousands of citizens of Bangalore under the
banner Save Cubbon Park Campaign have
been protesting the Karnataka Government’s various actions in deteriorating the
conditions of this heritage park. The
de-notification of 45 acres of the park during July 1998 in order to justify
various illegal constructions aided by the Government set of a wave of massive
protests during September and October last year. In view of this the Court of the Chief Justice of the High Court
of Karnataka issued a suo moto order
staying the de-notification. Since then
several petitions have been filed before the Court, including one by
Environment Support Group, and are pending adjudication. In a recent hearing, the Court has decided
to call for final hearing all such matters on the 16th of March
1999.
Considering
that the matter is before the Court of law, we feel that it is in the best
interest of all concerned that no development, good or bad, should be allowed,
till such time the matter is legally resolved.
In such context, we find the initiative to set up a treatment plant very
much opposed to the High Court’s judgement of 2nd November 1998.
Further, the process by which the tenders have been called for, is illegal in
view of various legislations in place according protection to the Park.
In
this context we have submitted a memorandum to His Excellency the Governor of
Karnataka, who has assured us that he will direct the Government to treat it
seriously. I am enclosing a copy of the
Memorandum, a Press Release, and related reports in today’s dailies for your
perusal. Also enclosed is a copy of the
2nd November judgement of the High Court, our Impleading Application
that is pending before the Court, and an article published in the Bangalore
Monthly in order to apprise you of the issues involved.
In
view of such developments, we urge your Government, to exercise restraint in
supporting the development of the sewage treatment plant, in respect for the
judicial process underway and the public opinion. In fact, it would be an excellent gesture on your part, if you
supported the two-point proposal of the Save
Cubbon Park Campaign submitted to the Governor, in appreciation of a
citizen-engagement based, consultative and evolved democratic decision making
process.
We
thank you for your cooperation and support, and look forward to your response
at your earliest convenience.
With
best regards,
Yours
sincerely,
Leo
F. Saldanha
Coordinator
Environment
Support Group
Encl.:
As above