Govt to spend Rs 30 crore on Lalbagh facelift

Govt to spend Rs 30 crore on Lalbagh facelift
Bangalore, May 4, DHNS:

Stunned by the sorry state of the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was on Tuesday quick to announce a Rs 30-crore plan to develop the place as a model for lung spaces across the City.

Before he could come to terms with Lalbagh’s current scene, Yeddyurappa had more shockers in store at Yelahanka tank, Tirumanarahalli tank and Kacharakanahalli tank.

These revelations unfolded before him when the chief minister, BWSSB Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu and Mayor S K Nataraj went on a City tour. The chief minister directed his officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for an overall development of these key lung spaces.

What struck the chief minister most at Lalbagh was the poor state of the walking track, aquarium and the tank. The apparent lack of adequate drinking water and toilets was too stark a lacuna to ignore. As if these were not enough, members of the walkers association complained about the lack of security inside and the taxing dog menace.

Under the chief minister’s instructions, Lalbagh will now get a facelift with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the horticulture department spending Rs 30 crore on repairing the walking tracks, aquarium, entertainment and sports facilities for the children. Also on the agenda are fountains at four spots within the park and a boating facility at the tank.

After an inspection of the Yelahanka tank, the chief minister observed that the 300-acre water body had shrunk due to encroachment. The officials concerned were directed to clear the encroachment, fence and desilt the lake. Encroachment was also seen at Tirumanarahalli tank at Hegde Nagar, spread across 240 acres.

Yeddyurappa’s final stop was at Kacharakanahalli tank, a lung space spread across 57 acres. A temple occupied four acres of this spot. When local residents told the chief minister that the government had given permission for a slaughter house to come up there, he assured them that the order would be reversed.

Concluding his tour, the chief minister announced that a separate officer would be appointed to clear land encroachments, especially in Devanahalli Taluk, where 3,000 to 4,000 acres of government land has been reportedly encroached. The chief minister said he would continue his weekly visit to different parts of the City to inspect the infrastructure facilities.