No cultural shows in Lalbagh

‘No cultural shows in Lalbagh’
Deccan Herald

Ornithologists, bird watchers and more than all, Bangaloreans can heave a sigh of relief. The Government has decided not to allow cultural events in the evenings in Lalbagh.

Chief Minister Dharam Singh himself has taken this decision. Mr Singh, referring to the resentments expressed by renowned ornithologists against allowing public functions in Lalbagh, said, “Henceforth we will not allow private programmes to be organised in this garden. No one will be allowed to misuse the garden. We have issued strict warning to officials in this regard”.

Even the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly had taken Horticulture Minister R Srinivas to task for allowing a TV channel to telecast a live programme at Lalbagh during the India-Pakistan cricket Test series recently.

Horticulture Director G K Vasanth Kumar, in his interaction with Deccan Herald recently, had justified the renting out of Lalbagh to a TV channel to conduct a talk show. He had said that Lalbagh glass house would get good publicity by allowing programmes to be conducted there. Asked whether he was for doing away with pay-and-park system as resolved by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), the chief minister said, “I will be taking a final decision in this regard after April 7. There are divergent views. We have to think from the police point of view also before taking the decision”.