MGP plans massive protest on Aug. 30 at Cheluvamba Park

Sends e-mail to Guv to reject the Bill

Mysuru: Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has organised a protest on Aug. 30  at Cheluvamba Park, Yadavagiri in the city, from 8 am to 9 am against the Cabinet’s approval to a Bill amending the Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, allowing portions of park and garden land to be used for public infrastructure and utility projects.

As a parallel move, the MGP has emailed a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, with a request not to sign the proposed  amendment to Karnataka Parks ( Preservation) Act, 1975.

Besides, MGP has appealed those interested to write to the Governor urging him not to accept the Bill, on his email address:  [email protected]

MGP has observed that this new amendment will certainly close down the parks. Here are the two such  examples of Mysuru city itself.

Mysuru City Corporation in early 90s constructed a building as a guest house and later claimed for office at Cheluvamba Park. As a result of MGP filing a PIL under the Parks Act, the building was demolished and only a portion of it is used as a toilet.

In another instance, the total encroachment of People’s Park, Nazarbad, in the name of building a library was stopped. MCC officials and elected leaders were ready to give away most precious land for building hotel, bars, shops etc., to get a “free library”.

These two examples should show how the newly amended Act, if it becomes a law, will pave way for destruction of parks.

Examples of encroachment in five parks brought to MGP’s notice: Construction of overhead water tank in Gururaj Layout park, illegal construction of a mini library in Siddique Nagar Park, construction of a senior citizen facility in Jayanagar Park, construction of a building in Javare Gowda Park in Saraswathipuram, water tank in K.C. Layout Park and waste segregation plant in Hebbal Park.