War memorial work only after HC nod: CM

War memorial work only after HC nod: CM

Srikanth Hunasavadi. Bangalore



The construction of a war memorial in the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain park will not be taken up only if the Karnataka high court gives the state the go-ahead, chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has said.
"I had no information about the construction of a war memorial at the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain park," he said on Monday. "Now the matter is pending before the high court, and we will abide by its orders. I will issue directions to officials to stop any on-going work immediately until the court gives its orders," he said.
Yeddyurappa said that the war memorial project was considered based on the good intention behind the recommendations of the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development (ABIDe) task force. "However, some environmentalists have opposed the move and approached the court. Work has been stalled for now, and we will not resume it until the gives its nod," the chief minister said.
The Krishna Apartments Owners Welfare Association, which had filed a public interest litigation in the court opposing the felling of trees for in the park for the war memorial, clarified that it had not filed any contempt petition. Speaking to DNA, the petitioner's counsel, BC Thiruvengadam, said that the judgment on the association's petition had been reserved. "We do not have any records on the project as yet. The court has only stayed the cutting of trees, and not the construction work. So, we have not filed any contempt petition," he said.
The petitioners submitted that the government had formulated a policy that did not permit construction of buildings in existing parks. Even Bal Bhavan authorities were not allowed to put up a temporary structure on November 14, 1979, on the premises.
The petitioners contended that the area earmarked for the memorial was formerly used by the LRDE, a defence establishment, with temporary structures prior to 1998. Later, these structures were removed, trees were planted, and a musical fountain was created to bring this park into existence