Parishat planning to file PIL plea over park ‘defacement’ Bird sanctuary proposed there is a violation of law, says MGP  Opposition:Construction work at Sanjeevani Park in Mysore has drawn flak from activists.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM : The “defacement” of a once-beautiful park has snowballed into a controversy with non-governmental organisations locking horns with local authorities and threatening to file a public interest litigation (PIL) petition. The Sanjeevani Park — popularly known as Happy Man’s Park — near Kamakshi Hospital, Saraswathipuram, was, till recently, reckoned to be a model one and popular among local residents. But the Mysore City Corporation’s (MCC) decision to revamp the park and “embellish” it with new “attractions”, including a bird sanctuary, has drawn the ire of NGOs. While the Kannada Yuva Jana Jagrata Vedike has criticised the authorities for the “restoration” of the park and described it as needless and an example of “daylight robbery of taxpayers’ money”, Sri Thulasi Nairmalya Samsthe staged a protest recently condemning the proposal. Meanwhile, the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has said it is thinking of filing a PIL plea to get the sanctuary demolished as it amounted to violation of the Karnataka Parks and Open Spaces Act. P.G. Ramesh, MCC Commissioner, told The Hindu that there was no violation as the Act allowed constructions, provided it did not exceed 5 per cent of the total area. He said the work was not for commercial structures and hence it could not be construed to be extraneous to the park. However, MGP’s Bhamy V. Shenoy refuted the statement. He said a building could be constructed only for limited purpose like storing park equipment and not for housing a bird sanctuary. He pointed out that the water tower being constructed on one side of the park was also a violation of the Act. “We are fighting to save the People’s Park where a library building is taking shape but this park too merits intervention of public-spirited people,” he added. An MCC official said the park was being renovated at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh and seating arrangements and a walking track would be ready in a month. Incidentally, open spaces in Mysore face a threat owing to the permission accorded for construction by the local authorities. While the People’s Park is a case in point, the J.K. Grounds opposite the railway station was also faced a threat as the authorities wanted the city bus-stand to be shifted there. Following objections by activists, the move was shelved. Similarly, a building was constructed at Cheluvamba Park but a portion of it was demolished after MGP filed a PIL petition.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:29:06 +0000
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