Govt. now aims at destroying Cubbon Park

HC clearance sought for reception counters in park

Vijay Times News

Bangalore: The State Government on Friday sought the Karnataka High Court's permission to construct reception counters within the Cubbon Park area to regulate, restrict and streamline the entry of employees and vehicles to Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N K Sodhi and Justice N Kumar have issued notices in this regard.

Since two of the four reception counters come under the notified area of Cubbon Park, where no construction is allowed, the government filed an interlocutory application (IA) seeking the court's nod for going ahead with the project. The government said on Aug 13, 2001, the High Court had upheld the government notification of July 30, 1998 (issued under the Karnataka Government Parks Preservation Act of 1975) specifying the limits of Cubbon Park. While upholding the notification, the court had issued directions that no new construction should be carried out within the park without its clearance. After the Dec 2001 attack on Parliament, the State Government drew up measures to step up security to Vidhana Soudha and the buildings surrounding it.
The CISF along with the Fire Force was asked to conduct an exercise for security and fire protection norms, which suggested the counters.