Bescom digs holes in ‘royal’park

Bescom digs holes in ‘royal’park
I Park gifted by the Mysore Maharaja to his dewan is making way for an electric sub-station I What is also causing concern is that the sub station is being constructed next to compound wall of 95-year-old school which adjoins the park
BENGALURU

BY SUSHMITA CHATTERJEE The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation has dug up an 80year-old park to establish a large High Voltage Sub Station, drawing protests from people who also see it as a threat to children of a nearby school.

Parvathi Boulevard which covers both sides of the K.R.

Road, between Mahila Seva Samaj and National College, Basvangudi dates back to 1928. The park, which was gifted to Dewan Chandrasekhar Iyer by the Maharaja of Mysore, is a popular lung space in the area. The dewan dedicated the park to the memory of his wife Parvathi.

A couple of months ago Chandrashekhar Iyer’s family was aghast on seeing Bescom staff digging up parts of the park. Says Seetha Shivaraman, Chandrasekhar Iyer’s granddaughter, “Presently work isn’t in progress because KPTC says there is a lack of funds. But they have already dug up nearly 100 feet of the park and we fear they will slowly take over the entire area. Earlier we thought, the metro was to go through the park, but we later learnt that a sub-station is being built here.” What is also causing concern is that the sub station is being constructed next to compound wall of 95-yearold school with 1,300 students which adjoins the park. People fear this might prove hazardous to students who often play in the park.

“It is difficult to control children and constantly monitor their activities during lunch breaks. What if they come too close to the sub-station? We are planning to expand the school but now this doesn’t seem possible. The park is not supposed to be taken away from us just like that,” said Ms Shivaraman.

The Mahila Seva Samaj wrote to the BBMP commissioner on June 11 this year objecting to the construction of the sub-station.

But it has received no reply.

When this newspaper tried to contact KPTCL officials they were evasive.

However, BBMP Commissioner, S. Subramanya said, “I will have the spot inspected and reviewed before taking a decision on the sub station.”