Metro: Save Lal Bagh protest intensifies

Metro: Save Lal Bagh protest intensifies
Bangalore, DH News Service:
Citizens who care for the green pastures of Lal Bagh in the City on Friday once again voiced their protest against the proposed metro station by BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited) inside Lal Bagh and R V Road stretch.

A candlelight vigil was the mode of protest, with more than 250 tree lovers holding banners, playing music and singing songs about saving Lal Bagh and trees, on Friday evening.

All that they say is 1135.18 square metres of Lal Bagh Botanical Garden has been acquired for a metro station by an Ordinance to the Karnataka Parks Act without prior public consultation or democratic debate. Prabhakar, a businessman said, “The BBMP has already uprooted so many trees in the name of road-widening and now it is Metro’s turn to butcher the trees.”

Hasire Usiru’s Leo Saldana says, “The BMRCL has clearly violated the laws. They need to consult the High Court and the public and wait for 60 days for any decision. Any kind of construction work during election period is not acceptable. This is clearly not adhering to the code of conduct.”


Other supporters like Balasubramanya, Radhika, Vrinda and Beena wanted to save all the trees around the Nanda Theatre Road. They were even ready to hug the trees and stand, if any official emerged with an axe.

But even as the BMRCL and the State government remained silent after Hasire Usiru’s legal notice, many legislators including Jayanagar MLA Vijaykumar, Hemachandrasagar, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Narendra Babu extended their support to the protesters. Bangalore South Independent candidates Captain Gopinath and Santosh Min have also supported the protesters and have asked to stop the construction. Congress candidate Krishna Byregowda has said that he wants the Metro to come up but not at the cost of a portion of Lal Bagh.