Minister pays surprise visit to Lalbagh

Minister pays surprise visit to Lalbagh

VIJAY TIMES NEWS

Bangalore: Joggers at Lalbagh had a surprise companion on Thursday morning in the Horticulture Minister R Srinivas. The minister, accompanied by mediapersons, paid a surprise visit to the botanical garden to, what he termed as, "have a personal experience of the problems faced by the visitors."

It was time for taking the officers to task as soon as the minister arrived at 6.10 am in his personal car. Shocked to see a few vehicles moving inside Lalbagh, he immediately ordered the authorities to ban such movements.

Complaints started flooding when the joggers surrounded the minister.

They ranged from stray dog menace to lack of drinking water, the need for walking track to absence of adequate toilet facilities.
There were also a few like re-opening of deer park, resuming pending projects and setting up a musical fountain. Surprised at drinking water booths being locked the minister said they were not put to use as formal inauguration had not taken place.

Reacting to the demand for allocation of more funds for maintenance of the park he said, the public should also contribute for the development. He said, the annual allocation for the entire horticulture department was just Rs 35 crore.

Later he told reporters that a public meeting would be convened to discuss the problems. "I will ensure that public become a part in maintenance of the park," he said. Hopcoms: He also announced that two more Hopcom stalls would be opened and they would function from 6 am so that joggers can purchase vegetables and fruits on their way back home.