GREEN opportunity

GREEN opportunity
Prashanth G N | TNN

Bangalore: Why can’t Bangalore have a world-class park like Central Park, New York or a botanical garden like in Kandy, Sri Lanka? If no one, at least Bangalore’s children — its future — will surely love it. They don’t have too many places to absorb good oxygen.
While Bangalore does indeed boast of Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, one walk in Central Park or the Kandy Botanical Garden will show how lush greenery in a city can leave you mesmerized and fresh. Bangalore Turf Club’s 60 acres is a heaven-sent opportunity to give the city greenery of world standards and the lung space it desperately needs.
Turning it into an aesthetic and green hub in the heart of the city can be the mark of a global city as much as a World Trade Center. The argument for a green space need not be construed as an argument against a a vertical World Trade Centre.
While a tall and brightly-lit skyline could certainly be a matter of pride and a lovely aesthetic, it’s just a matter of asking where it’s best to locate such a marvel — to allow you to convert rare open spaces within the city into hubs that offer fresh air.
Environmentalist Suresh Heblikar says planning is crucial to preserve open spaces. “Planners should consider the topography before taking a decision on the World Trade Centre. Everything around the towers should be well planned. What does it mean to have a planned tower around a congested and unplanned business district? There will be imbalance.”
He believes the turf club offers a golden chance to give the city a beautiful and highly aesthetic green space.
“Make a tree park to which people would love to go. Or even a botanical garden. People will certainly remember the city for a green space that relaxes you in the middle of the din. We shouldn’t miss the bus,” he says.
Urban planning expert A Ravindra says green space could be retained even if the buildings come. “It depends on how you reduce congestion and make allowance for vehicles and parking. It depends on design,” he said.
Planning and environmental expert Yellappa Reddy is worried about congestion. He says the area around the turf club has just eased and that too after sacrificing a lot of greenery. “The area is already heavily congested and we have just eased it a bit. Now, if you bring a vast officecommercial space, where is the space for the hundreds of new vehicles that will naturally ply in the area? The government should prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment report before deciding on buildings on the turf club land.”
Reddy says a panel has already recommended that Palace Grounds and Bangalore Turf Club be converted into green lung spaces and botanical gardens. “Have the buildings certainly, but at a different location. We need to preserve the health of the community.”
Bangalore already has the marvellous IT park at Whitefield. A World Trade Centre could be another feather in Bangalore’s post-modern cap. Why not just a little bit away from the turf club?